The Spanish verb 'procurar' (meaning 'to try' or 'to procure') comes from the Latin verb 'procurare', meaning 'to take care of' or 'to manage'. The Latin word was formed by combining two elements: the prefix 'pro-' meaning 'forward' or 'in favor of', and the verb 'curare' meaning 'to care for'. This combination created a word that literally meant 'to care forward' or 'to take care of in advance', which evolved into the modern Spanish meanings of trying to make something happen or obtaining something.

A related Spanish word is 'curar', which comes from the same Latin root 'curare'. While 'procurar' evolved to mean 'to try' or 'to procure', 'curar' retained the meaning of 'to cure' or 'to heal', maintaining a closer connection to the original sense of 'taking care of' something or someone.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'procure' and 'procurement', which come from the same Latin source 'procurare'. The English word 'cure' is also related, coming from Latin 'curare'. While 'procure' in English maintains the sense of obtaining or getting something, 'cure' focuses on healing or remedying, similar to Spanish 'curar'.