The Spanish verb 'durar' (to last, endure) comes from the Latin verb 'durare' meaning 'to last, endure'. This Latin verb was derived from the adjective 'durus' meaning 'hard, firm'. The semantic development from 'hard' to 'lasting' makes intuitive sense - things that are hard and firm tend to last longer than soft, fragile things. This connection between hardness and endurance has been preserved from Latin into modern Spanish.

Some related Spanish words include 'duro' (hard, tough), which more directly preserves the original Latin meaning of hardness, and 'durante' (during), which shares the sense of lasting over time. The adjective 'duradero' (lasting, durable) is also derived from 'durar'.

English speakers can connect 'durar' to several familiar words that came from the same Latin root: 'endure', 'duration', and 'durable'. All of these words preserve the core meaning of lasting or continuing over time. The word 'during' is also related, coming from the same Latin source. Even the English word 'duress' (forceful hardship) is related, though it emphasizes the original 'hardness' meaning of Latin 'durus'.