non-linear
|non/lin/ear|
B2
🇺🇸
/nɒnˈlɪniər/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˈlɪniə/
not in a straight line
Etymology
Etymology Information
'non-linear' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'linear' from Latin 'linearis', meaning 'pertaining to a line'.
Historical Evolution
'Linear' evolved from the Latin word 'linearis', and with the addition of the prefix 'non-', it became 'non-linear' in modern English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'linear' meant 'pertaining to a line', and with the prefix 'non-', it evolved to mean 'not in a straight line'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not arranged in a straight line or sequential order.
The plot of the movie was non-linear, jumping back and forth in time.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45