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Etymologically, English has two separate words indent, although they have converged to a considerable extent. The one meaning "form a recess in" is simply a derivative of dent. Indent "make a jagged edge on" owes its origin to Latin dent "tooth." This formed the basis of an Anglo-Latin verb indentare that denoted the drawing up of a contract between two parties on two identical documents that were cut along a matching line of notches or "teeth" that could subsequently be rejoined to prove their authenticity. A specific use of such contracts was between master craftsmen and their trainees, who hence became known as indentured apprentices.
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