Definition of the word rental

The word "rental" comes from the Old Northern French word "retene" which means "to keep" or "to retain." In the Middle Ages, when landlords would lease land or property to tenants for a fee, they would use the French term "retenir" to describe this arrangement. This French phrase eventually found its way into Old English, where it evolved into "ryntel," which was used to refer to the rent charged by the landlord for leasing their property. Over time, the word "rental" came to be associated with temporary use of goods or services in exchange for payment, and it is now used in a variety of contexts, including car rentals, movie rentals, and short-term apartment rentals.