non-

CIDE DICTIONARY

non-, pref. [L. non, OL. noenu, noenum, fr. neoenum, lit., not one. See None.].

 A prefix used in the sense of not; un-; in-; as in nonattention, or non-attention, nonconformity, nonmetallic, nonsuit.  [1913 Webster]
" The prefix non- may be joined to the leading word by means of a hyphen, or, in most cases, the hyphen may be dispensed with. The list of words having the prefix non- could easily be lengthened."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

non-, prefix giving the negative sense of words with which it is combined, esp.:
1 not doing or having or involved with (non-attendance; non-payment; non-productive).
2 a not of the kind or class described (non-alcoholic; non-member; non-event). b forming terms used adjectivally (non-union; non-party).
3 a lack of (non-access).
4 (with adverbs) not in the way described (non-aggressively).
5 forming adjectives from verbs, meaning 'that does not' or 'that is not meant to (or to be)' (non-skid; non-iron).
6 used to form a neutral negative sense when a form in in- or un- has a special sense or (usu. unfavourable) connotation (non-controversial; non-effective; non-human).

Usage

The number of words that can be formed with this prefix is unlimited; consequently only a selection, considered the most current or semantically noteworthy, can be given here.

Etymology

from or after ME no(u)n- f. AF noun-, OF non-, nom- f. L non not