The Spanish word 'secreción' (meaning 'secretion') comes from the Latin word 'secretio', meaning 'separation'. This Latin word was formed from two main parts: the past participle 'secretum' ('separated') and the suffix '-tio' which was used to form nouns indicating an action or process.

Going further back, 'secretum' came from the Latin verb 'secernere' meaning 'to separate', which itself was composed of two elements: the prefix 'se-' meaning 'apart' or 'away', and the verb 'cernere' meaning 'to separate' or 'distinguish'. The modern meaning of 'secretion' developed from the idea of substances being separated or released from an organism or gland.

Several common Spanish words share this Latin root, including 'secreto' (secret) and 'segregar' (to segregate). These words all carry the core meaning of separation - a secret is something set apart or kept separate from others, while segregar refers to the act of separating or setting apart.

English speakers can connect 'secreción' to several familiar English words. 'Secretion' is the direct English cognate, while 'secret' and 'secrete' come from the same Latin root. The word 'discern' (to distinguish or separate mentally) is related through the Latin 'cernere'. All these words maintain some connection to the original concept of separation or setting apart.