from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Indent \In*dent"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Indented}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Indenting}.] [OE. endenten to notch, fit in, OF.
endenter, LL. indentare, fr. L. in + dens, dentis, tooth. See
{Tooth}, and cf. {Indenture}.]
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1. To notch; to jag; to cut into points like a row of teeth;
as, to indent the edge of paper.
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2. To dent; to stamp or to press in; to impress; as, indent a
smooth surface with a hammer; to indent wax with a stamp.
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3. [Cf. {Indenture}.] To bind out by indenture or contract;
to indenture; to apprentice; as, to indent a young man to
a shoemaker; to indent a servant.
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4. (Print.) To begin (a line or lines) at a greater or less
distance from the margin; as, to indent the first line of
a paragraph one em; to indent the second paragraph two ems
more than the first. See {Indentation}, and {Indention}.
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5. (Mil.) To make an order upon; to draw upon, as for
military stores. [India] --Wilhelm.
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