Nonadhesive

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking the property to bond or attach to other materials
2. Not exhibiting the capability to stick or adhere to surfaces in any way
3. Unable to cling or bond to surfaces or other materials in any manner

Etymology: The prefix here is the ordinary English "non-", which goes back to Old English "nān", meaning "not one," a contraction of "ne" (not) and "ān" (one). That is the same root that gives "none" and "nonce" in older English, so the negation is very old even though it is attached to a much newer adjective. The base word, "adhesive," comes from Latin "adhaerēre," meaning "to stick to," built from "ad-" (to) and "haerēre" (to stick). It passed through Medieval Latin "adhaesivus" and then French "adhésif" before reaching English, where it became "adhesive." "Nonadhesive" is simply the combination of the two: a word formed in English by attaching "non-" to an existing adjective, so it describes something that does not stick.

Synonyms: non-sticky, detachable, loose, unbonded, unattached

Antonyms: adhesive, sticky, bonded, attached, fastened