Definition of rent

The word "rent" has a nuanced and fascinating history. The Old English word "rent" meant "to tear or rend", and was related to the verb "renta", which meant "to tear or split". This sense of tearing or splitting is still present in modern English words like "rented" (e.g. "the rent was torn") and "rental" (e.g. "a rental property"). In the 14th century, the meaning of "rent" shifted to describe the act of tearing or breaking, rather than the state of being torn. This sense is still seen in phrases like "the rent in his clothes" or "the rent in the fabric". It wasn't until the 17th century that the term "rent" began to refer to a periodic payment made for the use of something, such as land or property. This sense of "rent" is thought to be derived from the idea of "rending" or dividing up the income or profits from a property or resource.