Etymology Map
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Lease

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a contract to rent property

Where does the word "lease" come from? It comes from Latin laxare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
laxare
Latin · ancient
"to loosen"
from 'laxus', loose, the root of 'lax' and 'relax'
2
Stage 2 of 3
lesser
Old French · medieval
"to let go"
the root of 'lax', 'relax' and 'release'
3
Stage 3 of 3
lease
English · 1400s
"a rental contract"
'a new lease of life' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Lease’s story begins in Latin: laxare meant “to loosen.” From 'laxus', loose, the root of 'lax' and 'relax'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as lesser. The root of 'lax', 'relax' and 'release'. It reached English by 1400s as lease. 'a new lease of life' dates from the 1800s. Today, lease means a contract to rent property.