The Spanish verb 'comer' (to eat) comes from the Latin verb 'comedere' meaning 'to eat up' or 'devour'. The Latin 'comedere' itself is a compound word formed from two parts: the prefix 'com-' meaning 'with' or 'together', and the verb 'edere' meaning 'to eat'. So literally, the original Latin word meant something like 'to eat together' or 'to eat completely', before evolving into the general word for eating in Spanish.

The verb 'comer' is one of the most basic and common verbs in Spanish, so it's actually more likely that Spanish learners will encounter this word first and then learn more complex related words. Some related Spanish words include 'comida' (food), 'comedor' (dining room), and 'comestible' (edible).

While English 'eat' comes from a different root, there are some English words related to 'comer' through the Latin 'edere'. These include 'edible' (able to be eaten), 'inedible' (not able to be eaten), and 'comestible' (edible, though this is a more formal word). The prefix 'com-' is also found in many English words like 'combine', 'compress', and 'commit', always carrying the sense of 'with' or 'together'.