- rent (n.1)
- "payment for use of property," mid-12c., from Old French rente, from Vulgar Latin *rendita, properly the fem. past participle of rendere "to render" (see render).
- rent (v.)
- mid-15c., "to rent out property," from Old French renter or from rent (n.). Related: Rented; renting. Prefix rent-a- first attested 1921, mainly of businesses that rented various makes of car (Rentacar is a trademark registered in U.S. 1924); extended to other "temporary" uses since 1961.
- rent (n.2)
- "torn place," 1530s, noun use of Middle English renten "to tear, rend" (mid-14c.), variant of renden (see rend).