'nonarousing' originates from Modern English, formed by the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') + the present participle 'arousing' of the verb 'arouse'.

'arouse' came into English via Middle English 'arousen' (or 'arisen' in some forms) from Old English elements such as 'ā-' (on) + 'rīsan' (to rise); the combining prefix 'non-' was later used in Modern English to negate adjectives and participles, producing compounds like 'nonarousing'.

Initially, the root verb 'arouse' meant 'to wake, raise, or stir up'; over time it broadened to include 'to excite emotionally or sexually.' 'Nonarousing' therefore developed to mean 'not producing that excitation'.