indent v. (1)曲线切割 古时，如果当事人多于一人，所制契据通常需依当事人人数制作复本，各复本顶部以锯齿线或波浪线切割，以便彼此契合，故此类契据称indenture。最初，契据各部分均写于同一张羊皮纸上，中间骑缝写有字符，沿骑缝字符切割。后来，不再写此字符，开始使用曲线切割，同一契据可通过各部分切口彼此契合而予以证明。现今，曲线切割也不再使用，indenture只用以与单方契据〔deed poll〕相区别，指由两方或两方以上当事人签署的契据。 (→indenture) (2)自我约束；以合同形式同意 (3)(以合同)约束(某人)
indent, n. 1. Hist. An indented certificate of indebtedness issued by the U.S. government or a state government in the late 18th or early 19th century. 2. A contract or deed in writing. indent (in-dent), vb. Hist. 1. To cut in a serrated or wavy line; esp., to sever (an instrument) along a serrated line