'padecer' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'patī / patiō', where the root 'pat-' meant 'to suffer' or 'to endure'.

'padecer' changed from Old Spanish 'padezer' (influenced by Latin and Vulgar Latin forms such as '*patiāre'/'paticare') and eventually became the modern Spanish 'padecer'.

Initially it meant 'to suffer or endure', and over time it has largely retained that meaning while extending to 'to undergo' or 'to be subject to' negative conditions.