indenture

Meaning

Noun

1. A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
2. 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.
3. (in-plural, often) A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying either of the above contracts.
4. An indentation; a recess.

Verb

1. To bind a person under such a contract.
2. To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.

Synonyms

indent

contract

indentation

indention

covenant

compact

agreement

notch

bargain

belay

bond

bracket

brooch

catch

clasp

concordat

deal

deed

deep

dip

droop

fasten

fix

fixate

frame

frame up

frap

furrow

hang on

hitch

imprint

incision

infix

jag

join

moor

mortgage

mount

nick

pact

peg

pin

post

reeve

rig

sag

secure

sign on

slash

slotting

stake

stick

stick on

stipulation

strap

submission

tack

toggle

treaty

trench

oceanic abyss

accord

depression

accordance

affix

alliance

apprenticeship

arrangement

attach

band

Translations

Vertrag

escritura

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪnˈdɛn.ʃɝ/

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.