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indenture Definition

in·den·ture (in den′c̸hər)

noun

  1. Now Rare indentation
  2. a written contract or agreement: originally, it was in duplicate, the two copies having correspondingly notched edges for identification
  3. a contract binding a person to work for another for a given length of time, as an apprentice to a master, or an immigrant to service in a colony
  4. an official, authenticated list, inventory, etc.
  5. Finance a document containing the terms under which bonds are issued

Etymology: ME endenture < OFr & < ML indentura: see indent: now used also as if < indent

transitive verb -·tured, -·tur·ing

  1. to bind by indenture
  2. Archaic indent

indenture Synonyms

indenture

n.

agreement, compact, arrangement; see contract.

indenture Finance Definition
A written agreement between a company and its lender that spells out the terms of the debt issue. The terms include the amount of bonds issued and their type, the interest rate that is paid, a description of the property that is being used as collateral, repayment provisions, and call provisions in the event that a company wants to redeem the bond before it matures. The indenture also lists any financial covenants that the company has to follow, such as maximum debt level ratios or minimum cash flow.
indenture Law Definition

n

A document such as a mortgage or deed of trust, which provides for security for a financial obligation, and which sets forth essential terms such as interest rate and due date or maturity date. 
indenture Usage Examples

Object

  • servitude: Many were only forced into indentured servitude, laboring in apple orchards for large landowners.
  • laborer: The plantation owner did not own his indentured laborer, the money he was paid could not cover his upkeep.
  • apprentice: In 1942 I was an indentured apprentice at the Parkside Garage on Warwick Row for five years.
  • servant: The supply of indentured servants from England was soon inadequate to meet the labor needs of the sugar industry.
  • labor: In Natal the system of indentured labor began in 1860.
  • worker: Where I come from we don't have social workers, just indentured workers.

Converse of object

  • date: The earliest document in the bundle is a land indenture dated 5 March 1716.
  • allow: Allowed an Indenture whereby John Dryden a poor Child of the Parish of S t.
  • make: The Clerk to make all Indentures for all persons bound and to take Reasonable Fees.
  • sign: At the end of the session the children will be asked to sign an Indenture to become apprentices for a period of 7 years.

Adjective modifier

  • large: Group of early large sheet vellum indentures, all dating back to the 18th c.
  • vellum: Group of five early vellum indentures from the 17th c.
  • twenty-eight: Collection of twenty-eight large sheet vellum indentures, 19th c.

Modifies a noun

  • trustee: Her general research interests include corporate and securities law and she has written on corporate bonds, indenture trustees and diversification of finance.
  • paper: Stitched into the lining of his clothing were his indenture papers, which would prove to any prospective employer that he knew his job.

Noun used with modifier

  • vellum: Group of early large sheet vellum indentures, all dating back to the 18th c.
  • apprenticeship: Likewise, apprenticeship indentures are only mentioned where they fill gaps or offer additional date coverage.
  • sheet: Group of early large sheet vellum indentures, all dating back to the 18th c.

Preposition: of

  • apprenticeship: Allowed an Indenture of apprenticeship whereby Susannah Holbrook aged ten years was bound to Joseph French of the parish of S t.
  • lease: In 1811, documents refer to Indentures of lease and release between this Elizabeth and George Brook, " a Shropshire gentleman " .