indenture

[ in-den-cher ]

See synonyms for: indenture indentured indenturing on Thesaurus.com

noun

a deed or agreement executed in two or more copies with edges correspondingly indented as a means of identification.
any deed, written contract, or sealed agreement.

a contract by which a person, as an apprentice, is bound to service.
any official or formal list, certificate, etc., authenticated for use as a voucher or the like.
the formal agreement between a group of bondholders and the debtor as to the terms of the debt.
indentation.

verb (used with object),in·den·tured, in·den·tur·ing.

to bind by indenture, as an apprentice.
Archaic. to make a depression in; wrinkle; furrow.

Origin of indenture

First recorded in 1275–1325; a Middle English word from the Medieval Latin word indentūra; see indent¹, -ure

Other words from indenture

in·den·ture·ship, noun

Words Nearby indenture

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use indenture in a sentence

But the pressure of need compelled his father to indenture him at an early age to a dyer in Lectourne.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
But her small boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
All the deeds above mentioned except an indenture, are signed only by the selling or granting party.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney Bolles
The new form of indenture also required the master to allow each apprentice a reasonable holiday in every year.
English Poor Law Policy | Sidney Webb
As showing the position of an apprentice in the 15th century a Shrewsbury indenture is given as a note to this Chapter.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds | Francis Aiden Hibbert

British Dictionary definitions for indenture

indenture

/ (ɪnˈdɛntʃə) /

noun

any deed, contract, or sealed agreement between two or more parties
(formerly) a deed drawn up in duplicate, each part having correspondingly indented edges for identification and security

(often plural) a contract between an apprentice and his master
a formal or official list or certificate authenticated for use as a voucher, etc
a less common word for indentation

verb

(intr) to enter into an agreement by indenture
(tr) to bind (an apprentice, servant, etc) by indenture

(tr) obsolete to indent or wrinkle

Derived forms of indenture

indentureship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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