non-selective

The word 'non-selective' is a modern English compound formed by the straightforward application of the negative prefix 'non-' to the existing adjective 'selective.' The prefix 'non-' derives from Latin 'non,' a straightforward adverb of negation. The core adjective 'selective' originates from the Latin verb 'seligere,' meaning "to choose out, select," itself formed from 'se-' (apart) and 'legere' (to gather, choose). The suffix '-ive' converts the verbal action into an adjective describing a quality. Therefore, the literal construction "not + having the quality of choosing" directly and logically yields the modern meanings of lacking choice or specificity.

Structure: non (not) + selective (involving selection) - non: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "not." It functions as a negative or privative prefix. - selective: An adjective of Latin origin, from the root 'select-' (to choose) and the suffix '-ive' (tending to, having the nature of). Its functional role is the core adjective modified by the prefix.