non-practicing
UK[ˌnɒnˈpræktɪsɪŋ]US[ˌnɑːnˈpræktɪsɪŋ]
adj
Not actively engaged in or following the rules of a particular profession, activity, or religion, especially one that one was formerly involved with.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
practic
ing
non
not
practic
to do, to act
ing
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word is a modern English compound formed by adding the negative Latin prefix 'non-' to the present participle 'practicing'. The core element 'practic' traces back to Greek praktikos, meaning "fit for action, practical," from the verb prassein, "to do, to act." This Greek root passed into Latin as practicus. The '-ing' suffix, of Germanic origin, turns the verb into an adjective describing a state or quality. Thus, the literal construction "not doing/acting" evolved into the specific modern sense of being inactive in a former profession or set of duties, such as law or religious observance.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + practic (to do, to act) + ing (adjective suffix)
non: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not."
practic: From Latin practicus (via Old French practique), meaning "concerned with action, practical."
ing: Old English origin, a suffix used to form present participles and adjectives from verbs.
Examples
She is a non-practicing attorney who now works as a legal consultant.
Although raised Catholic, he considers himself non-practicing.
The firm hired a non-practicing engineer to manage their technical documentation.