The Spanish verb 'mirar' (to look at) comes from the Latin verb 'mirari', which meant 'to wonder at' or 'to be amazed by'. 'Mirari' itself was derived from the Latin adjective 'mirus', meaning 'wonderful' or 'amazing'. The semantic shift from 'to wonder at' to simply 'to look at' shows how the act of gazing in amazement gradually became generalized to mean any kind of looking or watching.

Several common Spanish words share this Latin root, including: 'mirada' (glance, gaze), 'admirar' (to admire), 'maravilla' (marvel, wonder), and 'maravilloso' (wonderful, marvelous). All these words retain a connection to the original Latin sense of wonder and amazement.

English speakers can connect 'mirar' to several familiar English words that come from the same Latin root, such as 'miracle', 'mirror', 'admire', and 'marvel'. A miracle is something wonderful or amazing that causes us to wonder, while a mirror is something we look at - both meanings that connect back to the original Latin roots. Similarly, when we admire something, we look at it with wonder or appreciation, preserving both the 'looking' and 'wondering' aspects of the original meaning.