non-marital
UK[ˌnɒn ˈmærɪtl]US[ˌnɑːn ˈmerɪtl]
adj
Not relating to or involving marriage.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
marital
non
not
marital
relating to marriage
Etymology
The word "non-marital" is a modern English formation built upon the established adjective "marital." The base "marital" traces back to Latin maritalis, meaning "of a husband" or "matrimonial," itself derived from maritus (husband). The prefix "non," from Latin non meaning "not," is a productive and straightforward negating element in English. The compound "non-marital" logically follows a transparent pattern of prefixation, directly combining "not" with "relating to marriage" to create a term describing anything existing outside the context of marriage.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + marital (relating to marriage)
- non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not." It functions as a negative or privative prefix.
- marital: An adjective of Latin origin (from maritalis, relating to a husband), functioning as the base word meaning "relating to marriage."
Examples
The study focused on children born in non-marital relationships.
They sought legal advice regarding their non-marital cohabitation agreement.
The tax implications differ for marital and non-marital assets.