The Spanish verb 'competer' (meaning 'to be incumbent upon') comes from the Latin word 'competere', which meant 'to coincide' or 'correspond'. The Latin 'competere' itself was formed by combining two elements: the prefix 'com-' meaning 'together' and the verb 'petere' meaning 'to seek' or 'strive toward'. When these elements merged, the meaning evolved from literally 'seeking together' to expressing the idea of things coming together or corresponding, and eventually to indicating responsibility or obligation in Spanish.

Several common Spanish words share this Latin root, including 'competir' (to compete), 'competencia' (competition or competence), and 'competente' (competent). While 'competer' focuses on duty or obligation, these related words maintained meanings more closely tied to the idea of striving or seeking together, often in a competitive context.

English speakers can recognize this same Latin root in many familiar words such as 'compete', 'competition', 'competent', and 'competence'. These English words preserved the sense of striving or seeking that was present in the original Latin 'petere', while emphasizing the aspect of rivalry or contest that can emerge when multiple parties are 'seeking together'. The meaning evolved differently than Spanish 'competer', but you can see how both languages' words grew from the same conceptual seed of 'coming together for a purpose'.