indenture
/ɪnˈdɛn.ʃɝ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.67 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
noun
A contract relating to lending (typically for issuing a bond), a real estate transaction, or a bankruptcy that imposes additional conditions on one or both parties.
noun
A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying either of the above contracts.
noun
An indentation; a recess.
Example Sentences
- "And so the schoolmistress reconciled the recommendation to her conscience, and the indentures were cancelled, and the apprentice was free."
- "Walking the street very hungry, and not knowing what to do with himself, a crimp's bill was put into his hand, offering immediate entertainment and encouragement to such as would bind themselves to serve in America. He went directly, sign'd the indentures, was put into the ship, and came over, never writing a line to acquaint his friends what was become of him."
- "It was the critical moment of Oliver’s fate. If the inkstand had been where the old gentleman thought it was, he would have dipped his pen into it, and signed the indentures, and Oliver would have been straightway hurried off."
- "For the next two years, Ann's position in the family grew to be more and more that of a daughter. If it had not been for the indentures lying serenely in that tall wooden desk, she would almost have forgotten, herself, that she was a bound girl."
- "The narrow windows, flanked by deep indentures into the walls, seemed formed rather to exclude than to admit the cheerful light; and the heavy and gloomy appearance of the thunder-sky added still farther to the obscurity."
- "Though age may creep on, and indenture the brow."
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman endenture, from Old French endenteure, from endenter (“to dent”). The name of the contract derives from the irregular dent-shaped cut (indentation) used to prove the authenticity of the two parts, similar to a chirograph.
Origin
- Source language: Old French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪnˈdɛn.ʃɝ/