'nonappetitive' originates from modern English, formed by the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') attached to 'appetitive', which itself comes from Latin 'appetitus' from 'appetere' meaning 'to strive after' or 'to desire'.

'appetitive' derives from Latin 'appetitus' (past participle of 'appetere'), passed into Old French and Middle English as 'appetite' and related forms; in modern English the productive prefix 'non-' was added to create 'nonappetitive'.

Originally related forms (from Latin) carried the sense 'to desire or strive after'; over time 'appetitive' came to mean 'relating to appetite', and 'nonappetitive' developed to mean 'not relating to or not stimulating appetite'.