The Spanish verb 'quedar' (meaning 'to stay' or 'remain') traces its origins to Latin. It comes from the Latin verb 'quietare' meaning 'to quiet' or 'calm', which itself derived from the Latin adjective 'quietus' meaning 'quiet' or 'at rest'. Going back further, 'quietus' came from the Latin verb 'quiescere' meaning 'to become quiet' or 'rest'.

The semantic evolution from 'becoming quiet/resting' to 'staying/remaining' is quite intuitive - when something comes to rest or becomes quiet, it stays in place. This connection between stillness and remaining in place has preserved itself in the modern Spanish meaning.

Some related Spanish words include 'quieto' (meaning 'still' or 'motionless') and 'quietud' (meaning 'quietness' or 'tranquility'). These words maintain a closer connection to the original Latin meaning of stillness and quietness, while 'quedar' evolved to emphasize the aspect of remaining in place.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'quiet', 'quietness', and 'quiescent', all of which come from the same Latin roots. While the English words maintained the sense of being still or silent, the Spanish 'quedar' developed to focus more on the physical aspect of staying in place. The English word 'quiet' and Spanish 'quedar' showcase how a single root can evolve to emphasize different aspects of its original meaning in different languages.