The Spanish verb 'examinar' (to examine) comes from the Latin verb 'examinare', which meant 'to weigh' or 'to examine'. This Latin verb was derived from 'examen', a noun meaning 'weighing' or 'examination'.

The Latin 'examen' itself was formed from three parts: the prefix 'ex-' meaning 'out', the root 'agere' meaning 'to drive' or 'to do', and the instrumental suffix '-men'. The combination of these elements originally referred to the tongue or pointer of a balance scale (something that 'drives out' to measure weight), and later came to mean the act of weighing or examining something carefully.

Some related Spanish words include 'examen' (test, examination), which preserves the Latin noun form directly, and 'exacto' (exact, precise), which shares the same 'ex-' prefix and relates to the idea of careful measurement or examination.

English speakers can easily connect 'examinar' to the English word 'examine', which comes from the same Latin source. Other related English words include 'exam' and 'examination'. The connection between weighing something carefully and testing or examining it thoroughly is preserved in both languages.