'nonarborescent' originates from the English prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'arborescent', which ultimately derives from Latin 'arbor' meaning 'tree'.

'arbor' (Latin) gave rise to Late Latin and Old French forms that produced the adjective 'arborescent' in Modern French and English; the English formation 'nonarborescent' was made by prefixing 'non-' to 'arborescent' to indicate the negative.

Initially, 'arborescent' meant 'tree-like' (i.e., having the form or growth of a tree); 'nonarborescent' has meant 'not tree-like' since its formation and retains that negative meaning.