'nonpoetic' originates from English, specifically formed by the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') attached to the adjective 'poetic' (ultimately from Greek).

'poetic' comes from Greek 'poiētikos' (from 'poiēin' meaning 'to make'), passed into Latin and Old French as 'poeticus'/'poetique' and into Middle English as 'poetic'; the transparent English prefix 'non-' was later attached to create 'nonpoetic' to mean 'not poetic.'

Initially related to 'making' or 'the art of the poet' through 'poiētikos,' the element 'poetic' came to mean 'of or like poetry'; 'nonpoetic' therefore developed simply as 'not poetic' (lacking poetic qualities).