'nonimitative' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the negative prefix 'non-' + the adjective 'imitative', where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'imitative' derives from Latin 'imitatus' (from 'imitari') meaning 'to copy or imitate'.

'nonimitative' developed as a compound in English by attaching the prefix 'non-' to 'imitative' (from Middle English/early Modern English forms of 'imitative'), ultimately tracing back to Latin 'imitari' and 'imitatus'.

Initially, it meant 'not imitative' (i.e., not copying), and over time it has retained this core sense of being independent or not derived from imitation.