\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.
Note: Indentures were originally duplicates, laid together
      and intended 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.