in|dent

in|dent¹ «verb. ihn DEHNT; noun. IHN dehnt, ihn DEHNT», verb, noun.

–v.t.

1. to make notches in (an edge, line, or border); notch: »

The mountains indent the horizon.

2. to form notches or deep bays in; penetrate: »

an indented coast.

3. to begin (a line) farther from the edge than the other lines: »

The first line of a paragraph is usually indented.

4. a) to notch or groove (a board, stone slab, or the like) for joining to another. b) to join by such notching.

5. a) to cut an identical wavy line on (two copies of a document) for identification. b) to draw up (a document) in two copies in this way.

6. a) to order (goods) by an official requisition. b) to draw an order upon (a source of supply).

7. = indenture. (Cf. ↑indenture)

–v.i.

1. to form a notch or recess; recede.

2. a) to draw upon a person or thing for something: »

For weeks I've been asking to have my transport repaired, but now they tell me I shall have to indent for it through proper channels (Atlantic).

b) to make an order in duplicate.

3. to enter into an agreement by indenture.

–n.

1. a notch; indentation.

2. an official requisition for supplies.

3. an order for goods.

4. an indented agreement; indenture.

5. a certificate issued by the United States government at the close of the American Revolutionary War for the principal or interest of the public debt.

╂[< Old French endenter to notch, cut in < Late Latin indentāre to crunch on < Latin in- in + dēns, dentis tooth]

–in|dent´er, noun.

in|dent² «ihn DEHNT», verb, noun.

–v.t.

1. to make a dent or dents in; mark with a dent: »

sand indented by footprints. Deep in the neck his fangs indent their hold (Alexander Pope).

2. to press in; stamp.

3. to form as a dent: »

Deep scars were seen indented on his breast (John Dryden).

–n.

a dent; indentation.

╂[< in-² in + dent¹; meanings largely associated with indent¹]