‖ rentier
(rɑ̃tje)
Also fem. rentière (-jɛr).
[Fr.]
One who makes an income from property or investment. Cf. rente.
| 1847 in Webster. 1885 Instructions Clerks Classifying Occupations (Census Eng. & Wales, 1881) 100 Persons without specified occupations..returned by property, rank, &c... Rentier. 1885 A. Edwardes Girton Girl III. xv. 265 We are private citizens—rentières, living on our means. 1921 R. H. Tawney Acquisitive Society v. 68 If it [sc. a society] is to..avoid the creation of a class of rentier, it must not use for current consumption the whole of the wealth annually produced. 1948 A. Huxley Let. 25 Jan. (1969) 579 Maria's uncle..is a rentier, living on an unelastic income. 1954 M. Beresford Lost Villages ii. vi. 205 Any ex-demesne land which rentier lords were prepared..to lease. 1964 T. B. Bottomore Elites & Society iii. 45 Pareto's two types of elite..which he also refers to as the ‘speculators’ and the ‘rentiers’. 1969 Listener 6 Feb. 173/2 This grumbling, sinisterly superior rentière lived opposite Virginia Lodge, Parkwood Hill, the Dales' suburban residence. 1973 ‘D. Jordan’ Nile Green xxxi. 145 It's oil sheiks and Latin American generals and Lebanese rentiers who are going to buy your bonds. 1976 M. Green Children of Sun viii. 316 Brian..fulminated against rentiers and Money Men..but..he remained a hedonist and a snob. |