non-woody
|non-wood-y|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˈwʊdi/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˈwʊdi/
not woody; herbaceous / not made of wood
Etymology
'non-woody' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'woody' (from 'wood' + adjective suffix '-y').
'woody' traces back to Old English 'wudu'/'wudu' (wood) with the adjective-forming suffix '-y'; the prefix 'non-' comes via Old French from Latin 'non'. The compound 'non-woody' is a Modern English formation combining these elements.
Initially the elements meant 'not' + 'of wood'; over time the compound came to be used in botanical and material contexts to mean 'not woody' (e.g., herbaceous) and more generally 'not made of wood'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
of plants: not woody; lacking persistent woody tissue — herbaceous.
Many wildflowers are non-woody and die back to their roots each winter.
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Adjective 2
not made of wood; lacking wooden material or character (used of objects or construction).
The pavilion's supports are non-woody, constructed from steel and concrete.
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Last updated: 2025/11/07 16:23