'nonreflectively' originates from English, formed from the negative prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'reflective', plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'non-' meant 'not', 'reflective' comes from Latin 'reflectere' meaning 'to bend back', and '-ly' (from Old English '-lic') means 'in the manner of'.

'reflective' derives from Latin 'reflectere' ('re-' meaning 'back' + 'flectere' meaning 'to bend'), passed into Late Latin and Old French before entering Middle English as 'reflectif/reflective', and later formed the adverb with the Old English-derived suffix '-ly' to create 'reflectively' and then the negated form 'nonreflectively'.

Initially, roots related to 'reflectere' meant 'to bend back' (literal). Over time 'reflective' took on the figurative sense of 'bending the mind back on itself' (thinking), and 'nonreflectively' came to mean 'not in a thinking or thoughtful way'.