rent¹ (rĕnt)

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[Middle English rente, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin* rendita from feminine past participle of *rendere, to yield, return; see render.]

noun 

1. 1. Payment, usually of an amount fixed by contract, made by a tenant at specified intervals in return for the right to occupy or use the property of another.
   2. A similar payment made for the use of a facility, equipment, or service provided by another.
2. The return derived from cultivated or improved land after deduction of all production costs.
3. The revenue yielded by a piece of land in excess of that yielded by the poorest or least favorably located land under equal market conditions. Also called economic rent

verb: rent·ed, rent·ing, rents. 

transitive verb 

1. To obtain occupancy or use of (another's property) in return for regular payments.
2. To grant temporary occupancy or use of (one's own property or a service) in return for regular payments: rents out TV sets.

intransitive verb 

To be for rent: The cottage rents for $1,200 a month.

idioms

for rent

Available for use or service in return for payment.

derivatives

rent́a·biĺi·ty

noun

rent́a·ble

adjective

rent² (rĕnt)

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verb 

A past tense and a past participle of rend

noun 

1. An opening made by rending; a rip.
2. A breach of relations between persons or groups; a rift.

rent³ (rĕnt)

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[Short for parent.]

noun 

A parent. Often used in the plural: had to stay home with the rents.

rend (rĕnd)

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[Middle English renden, from Old English rendan.]

verb: rent (rĕnt) or rend·ed, rend·ing, rends. 

transitive verb 

1. To tear or split apart or into pieces violently. See synonyms at tear¹
2. To tear (one's garments or hair) in anguish or rage.
3. To tear away forcibly; wrest.
4. To pull, split, or divide as if by tearing: “Chip was rent between the impulse to laugh wildly and a bitterness that threatened hot tears” (Louis Auchincloss)
5. To pierce or disturb with sound: a scream rent the silence.
6. To cause pain or distress to: tales that rend the heart.

intransitive verb 

To become torn or split; come apart.