'nontragic' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'tragic' (from Ancient Greek 'tragikos').

'tragic' came into English via Latin ('tragicus') from Greek 'tragikos' (related to 'tragos' meaning 'goat', used in the formation of the word for the dramatic genre). The negative prefix 'non-' was used in Post-Medieval/Modern English to create compounds like 'non- + X' to indicate negation, producing 'nontragic' in Modern English.

Initially, 'tragic' referred to the theatrical genre (a tragedy). Over time it broadened to mean anything causing great sorrow or disaster; 'nontragic' therefore initially and now means 'not tragic' or 'lacking tragic quality.'