nonaquatic
|non-a-qua-tic|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnəˈkwætɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnəˈkwætɪk/
not living in water
Etymology
'nonaquatic' originates from a combination of the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'aquatic': 'non-' ultimately from Old English (related to 'nān' meaning 'not/no') used as a productive negative prefix in Modern English, and 'aquatic' from Latin 'aquaticus', where 'aqua' meant 'water'.
'aquatic' came into English via Latin 'aquaticus' (from 'aqua' meaning 'water') through Old French/Medieval Latin forms and Middle English; the negative prefix 'non-' has been a productive prefix in Modern English, and the compound 'nonaquatic' is a modern formation using that prefix plus 'aquatic'.
The element 'aquatic' originally signified 'relating to water' and that meaning has been retained; 'nonaquatic' therefore initially and presently means 'not relating to or living in water'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not aquatic; not living in or adapted to water — occurring or existing outside water (e.g., on land or in the air).
Many insects are nonaquatic, spending their life cycles on land or in the air rather than in water.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/15 16:11