'uncooperativeness' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'cooperative', which comes from the Latin 'cooperari', where 'co-' meant 'together' and 'operari' meant 'to work'.

'cooperari' transformed into the Old French word 'cooperer', and eventually became the modern English word 'cooperate', with 'uncooperativeness' forming as a noun.

Initially, 'cooperate' meant 'to work together', and 'uncooperativeness' evolved to mean the opposite, 'not working together'.