Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Indenture
In-den′ture
(?; 135)
, Noun.
[OE.
endenture
, OF. endenture
, LL. indentura
a deed in duplicate, with indented edges. See the Note below. See Indent
.] 1.
The act of indenting, or state of being indented.
2.
(Law)
A mutual agreement in writing between two or more parties, whereof each party has usually a counterpart or duplicate, sometimes with the edges indented for purpose of identification; sometimes in the
pl.
, a short form for indentures of apprenticeship
, the contract by which a youth is bound apprentice to a master. The law is the best expositor of the gospel; they are like a pair of
indentures
: they answer in every part. C. Leslie.
☞ Indentures were originally duplicates, laid together and indented by a notched cut or line, or else written on the same piece of parchment and separated by a notched line so that the two papers or parchments corresponded to each other. But indenting has gradually become a mere form, and is often neglected, while the writings or counterparts retain the name of indentures.
In-den′ture
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Indentured
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Indenturing
.] 1.
To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.
Though age may creep on, and
indenture
the brow. Woty.
2.
To bind by indentures or written contract;
as, to
. indenture
an apprenticeIn-den′ture
,Verb.
I.
To run or wind in and out; to be cut or notched; to indent.
Heywood.
Webster 1828 Edition
Indenture
INDENT'URE
,Noun.
INDENT'URE
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
indenture
indenture
English
Alternative forms
Noun
indenture (plural indentures)
- (law) A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
- (law) A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying such a contract.
- An indentation.
(Can we add an example for this sense?)
Translations
contract
|
Verb
indenture (third-person singular simple present indentures, present participle indenturing, simple past and past participle indentured)
- To bind a person under such a contract.
- To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.
- Though age may creep on, and indenture the brow.
Derived terms
- indenturedness
- indentured servant
- indentureship
Translations
bind under such a contract
|
References
- “indenture” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).