The word "lease" refers to a legal agreement in which one party (the lessor) grants another party (the lessee) the right to use a property or asset for a specified period of time in exchange for payment, typically in the form of rent. This arrangement is common in real estate, where individuals or businesses can use a property without owning it outright.
The word "lease" comes from the Old French term "laisser," meaning "to let" or "to allow," which is derived from the Latin "licere," meaning "to be allowed." It has been used in English since the 14th century.