INDENTURES Meaning and
Definition
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Indentures are legal documents or contracts that are typically written on parchment or paper and are characterized by having indentations along the edges or sides. These indentations were introduced to prevent forgery or tampering, as they were difficult to reproduce accurately. The indentures were created by using a method called "indenting" or "gathering," whereby each party would cut or tear an identical document into two or more parts and retain one part for themselves.
These documents were often used to record or establish agreements, especially in the realm of apprenticeships, terms of service, or land transactions. Typically, two or more copies of the indenture would be created, with each party involved retaining one for future reference or legal purposes. The copies would be bound together by the indentations, forming a recognizable and unique pattern that could be used to verify the authenticity of the document.
Indentures were prevalent in the medieval and early modern eras, and their usage declined with the advancement of technology and the widespread adoption of modern contract practices. However, they still hold historical significance and are occasionally used in formal or ceremonial contexts. These documents provide valuable insight into the legal and social structures of the past and contribute to our understanding of historical events and agreements.
Common Misspellings for INDENTURES
Etymology of INDENTURES
The word "indentures" originated from the Old English word "endenture" or "endentur", which means a written agreement or contract written in duplicate on a single sheet of parchment or paper. The term is derived from the Latin word "dentatum", meaning "toothed" or "notched". The name refers to the jagged, tooth-like edges that are formed when the document is split in two along a wavy or zigzag line, and each party receives one part of the document, thus creating an indented appearance. This specific form of contract was quite common during the medieval period and was used for various purposes, including apprenticeship agreements, land leases, and business contracts. Over time, the word "indenture" evolved to refer to any legal agreement or contract that was written in duplicate and had the distinctive indented edges.
Similar spelling words for INDENTURES
Conjugate verb Indentures
CONDITIONAL
I
would indenture
we
would indenture
you
would indenture
he/she/it
would indenture
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would indenture
FUTURE
I
will indenture
we
will indenture
you
will indenture
he/she/it
will indenture
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will indenture
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have indentured
we
will have indentured
you
will have indentured
he/she/it
will have indentured
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will have indentured
PAST
I
indentured
we
indentured
you
indentured
he/she/it
indentured
they
indentured
PAST PERFECT
I
had indentured
we
had indentured
you
had indentured
he/she/it
had indentured
they
had indentured
PRESENT
I
indenture
we
indenture
you
indenture
he/she/it
indentures
they
indenture
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have indentured
we
have indentured
you
have indentured
he/she/it
has indentured
they
have indentured
I
am indenturing
we
are indenturing
you
are indenturing
he/she/it
is indenturing
they
are indenturing
I
was indenturing
we
were indenturing
you
were indenturing
he/she/it
was indenturing
they
were indenturing
I
will be indenturing
we
will be indenturing
you
will be indenturing
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will be indenturing
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will be indenturing
I
have been indenturing
we
have been indenturing
you
have been indenturing
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has been indenturing
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have been indenturing
I
had been indenturing
we
had been indenturing
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had been indenturing
he/she/it
had been indenturing
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had been indenturing
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will have been indenturing
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will have been indenturing
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will have been indenturing
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will have been indenturing
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will have been indenturing
I
would have indentured
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would have indentured
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would have indentured
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would have indentured
I
would be indenturing
we
would be indenturing
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would be indenturing
I
would have been indenturing
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