In*den"ture (?; 135), n. [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 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.
&fist; 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, v. 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 apprentice.
In*den"ture, v. i. To run or wind
in and out; to be cut or notched; to indent.
Heywood.
