Where does “nonlawful” come from?

nonlawful (English) comes from English lawful, from Middle English laweful, from Middle English lawe, from Old English lagu, from Old Norse lǫg, from Old Norse lág, from Old Norse leggja, from Proto-Germanic lagjaną — to lie.

nonlawful (English): Not lawful; unlawful

Definitions

  1. Not lawful; unlawful

Ancestry of “nonlawful”, step by step

nonlawful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English lawful

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlawfulConforming to, or recognised by the laws of...
2Middle EnglishlawefulLawful; allowed by the law or legal system;...
3Middle EnglishlaweA law, regulation, or a group of them; Morality,...
4Old Englishlagusea, water, lake; the runic character ᛚ; law,...
5Old Norselǫgfate; situation, the condition that one is given...
6Old Norselága felled tree; log; lying tree
7Old Norseleggjato lay, place, put; to make, build
8Proto-Germaniclagjanąto lay, to place in a resting position
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlegʰ-to lie

via English non

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnonObsolete form of none
2Frenchnonno; not; a no, a negative response
3Old Frenchnonno; not; Alternative form of nom
4Latinnōnnot
5Old Latinnoenum
6Proto-Indo-Europeanóynosone; single
Every word from Proto-Indo-European legʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic lagjanąEvery word from Old Norse leggja
nonlawful — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer