The Spanish verb 'tentar' (meaning 'to touch, feel, or tempt') comes from the Latin verb 'tentare', which meant 'to touch, feel, or test'. 'Tentare' itself developed from the Latin verb 'tendere', meaning 'to stretch or extend'. The semantic evolution from 'stretching' to 'touching/testing' makes sense if you imagine physically reaching out (stretching) to touch or test something.

Some common Spanish words related to 'tentar' include 'tender' (to stretch out, extend), 'atender' (to attend to, pay attention), and 'extender' (to extend, spread out). All these words share the same Latin root 'tendere' and maintain connections to the idea of reaching out or extending, whether physically or metaphorically.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'tempt', 'tentative', and 'attempt', which all come from the same Latin 'tentare'. 'Tempt' evolved from the idea of 'testing' someone to 'enticing' them. 'Tentative' maintains the sense of 'testing' or 'trying' something cautiously. The word 'tend' and its derivatives like 'tendency', 'extend', and 'intend' are related through the Latin 'tendere', all preserving aspects of stretching, reaching, or directing toward something.