indenture
UK: ɪnˈdɛntʃə | US: ɪnˈdɛntʃər
n. a legal contract or agreement, especially one binding an apprentice to a master
n. a formal document with indented edges (historically to prevent forgery)
vt. to bind by a contract, such as an apprenticeship
indenture = in<into> + dent<tooth> + ure<noun suffix>
- in<into>: From Latin in-, meaning "into" or "in."
- dent<tooth>: From Latin dens (genitive dentis), meaning "tooth," referring to the jagged edges of early contracts.
- ure<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns denoting action or result.
Etymology Origin:
The word indenture originates from medieval legal practices. Contracts were written in duplicate on a single sheet, then torn or cut with jagged ("toothed") edges to prevent forgery—each party kept one half, and the matching edges verified authenticity. Over time, the term expanded to any binding agreement, especially apprenticeships.
The young blacksmith signed an indenture to work for seven years as an apprentice.
Historical land deeds were often executed as indentures with serrated edges.
Colonial America relied on indentured labor for economic growth.
The lawyer reviewed the indenture clause by clause.
Forgery was harder with indentures due to their unique edges.