Английский Этимологический словарь - rent (1)

- "payment for use of property," 1137, from O.Fr. rente, from V.L. *rendita, from fem. pp. of rendere "to render" (see render). The verb is 14c., from the noun. 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.