indent

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French endenter, from en- + dent tooth, from Latin dent-, dens — more at tooth Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to divide (a document) so as to produce sections with irregular edges that can be matched for authentication b. to draw up (as a deed) in two or more exactly corresponding copies 2. to notch the edge of ; make jagged 3. indenture 4. to set (as a line of a paragraph) in from the margin 5. chiefly British to order by an indent intransitive verb 1. obsolete to make a formal or express agreement 2. to form an indentation 3. chiefly British to make out an indent for something • indenter noun II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a. indenture 1 b. a certificate issued by the United States at the close of the American Revolution for the principal or interest on the public debt 2. chiefly British a. an official requisition b. a purchase order for goods especially when sent from a foreign country 3. indention III. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English endenten, from en- + denten to dent Date: 15th century 1. to force inward so as to form a depression 2. to form a dent in • indenter noun IV. noun Date: 1596 indentation