'nonlegendary' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'non-' (a negating prefix meaning 'not') combined with the adjective 'legendary.'

'legendary' comes from Old French 'legende' (a story to be read) and Medieval Latin 'legenda' (things to be read), derived from Latin 'legere' meaning 'to read.' The adjective 'legendary' developed in Middle English and was later joined with the productive Modern English negative prefix 'non-' to form 'nonlegendary.'

Originally 'legend' referred to 'things to be read' (stories about saints or notable events); over time it came to mean 'traditional or mythic story,' and 'legendary' came to mean 'relating to or resembling legend' or 'famous.' 'Nonlegendary' therefore developed to mean 'not part of legend' or more generally 'not famed or mythic.'