I am currently reading a book in Spanish and watching a few series in Spanish as well. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to analyse a bit the language as I came across words that seemed to have undergone a change of meaning from their Latin root. There are of course many words like that in French too, but here I am focusing on Spanish. Italian generally remained truer to its Latin etymology.
Note that esperar can also mean 'to hope', but the most common meaning is 'to wait'.
Feel free to propose more words.
Spanish | Etymology (from Latin unless otherwise specified) | Original meaning | Present meaning |
atreverse | attribuire sibi | attribute oneself | dare |
candil | candela | candel | oil lamp |
ceja | cilia | eyelash | eyebrow |
cigala | cicada | cicada | Norway lobster |
cobijo | cubicūlum | bedroom | refuge, shelter |
cobrar | from recuperare | recuperate, recover, get back | collect, cash, get paid |
cordero | cordus | "born late" | lamb |
cortar | curtāre | shorten | cut |
doblegar | duplicāre | duplicate, double | defeat, beat, subdue |
entender | intendere | hear | understand |
enterar | integrare | complete, renovate | inform, notify |
entregar | integrare | integrate | deliver, hand over, entrust |
equivocar | aequus+ vocāre | be ambiguous, have more than one meaning | mistake |
esperar | spērāre | hope | wait |
éxito | exĭtus | exit | success |
fracasar | from the Italian fracassare | smash up | fail, be unsuccessful |
garfio | graphĭum | pen | hook |
gordo | gurdus | silly, foolish | fat |
lástima | blasphemus | blasphemy | pity, shame |
lejos | laxus | ample, loose, lax | far (away) |
llevar | levare | raise | carry, take, etc. |
marchar | from the French marcher | walk, march | leave, go away |
muslo | muscŭlus | muscle | thigh |
nimio | nimius | abundant, excessive | insignificant |
ostentar | ostentāre | show, display | hold, occupy |
palabra | parabōla | comparison, proverb | word |
plata | plata | plate, sheet of metal | silver |
prender | prēndĕre | take | set fire / fasten, attach |
pronto | promptus | prompt, quick | soon |
pueblo | popŭlus | people | village |
quedar | quietare | be quiet | stay, keep |
raro | rarus | rare | strange |
rescatar | recaptare | get back | rescue, save, recover |
rescate | recapatare | return | ransom |
restar | restare | stay | diminish / subtract, deduct |
sigilo | sigilus | seal | discretion, silence |
suceso | successus | success | event, happening |
tener | tenere | hold | have |
tormenta | tormenta | upheaval | storm |
Note that esperar can also mean 'to hope', but the most common meaning is 'to wait'.
Feel free to propose more words.