INDENTMENT Meaning and
Definition
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Indentment is a noun with several definitions depending on the context. In a general sense, it refers to the act or process of indenting, which means to make a space or depression by creating a concave or recessed area in a surface. This definition is commonly associated with printing and typesetting, where an indentation is made to start a new paragraph or to distinguish a quotation within a text. In this context, an indentment creates a visual marker that helps organize and structure written content.
Moreover, indentment also has a specific meaning in the field of law and contracts. It refers to a legal agreement or contract between two parties, where one party, known as the obligor, agrees to perform a specified obligation or duty for another party, called the obligee. The indentment outlines the terms, conditions, and details of the agreement, providing a legally binding contract that protects the rights and responsibilities of both parties involved.
Furthermore, in the historical context, indentment denotes the practice or system where individuals, often laborers or apprentices, contracted themselves to serve an employer or master for a specific period. This form of indentured servitude typically involved significant obligations and restrictions for the person being indentured, such as a set term of service or a requirement to learn a trade. This historical practice, prevalent in various parts of the world, particularly during the colonial and post-colonial periods, often bound individuals to labor contracts and limited their personal freedom to some extent.
Common Misspellings for INDENTMENT
- undentment
- jndentment
- kndentment
- ondentment
- 9ndentment
- 8ndentment
- ibdentment
- imdentment
- ijdentment
- ihdentment
- inxentment
- incentment
- infentment
- inrentment
- ineentment
- indwntment
- indsntment
- inddntment
- indrntment
Etymology of INDENTMENT
The word "indentment" is derived from the Middle English term "indenture" which came from the Old French word "endenteure". The origin of "indenture" can be traced back to the Latin word "indentura", which means "a written agreement with notched edges". The term "indentura" is derived from the Latin word "in" (meaning "in" or "into") and "dentatus" (meaning "toothed" or "notched"). In medieval Europe, contracts or agreements were written on a single piece of parchment and then cut into two copies using a jagged or serrated edge, ensuring that the two pieces could be matched with each other. This practice was known as "indenting" and the resulting copies were called "indentures" or "indentments".
