Part 5744

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of indenting, or state of being indented.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>A mutual agreement in writing between two or more parties, whereof each party has usually a counterpart or duplicate; sometimes in the <pluf>pl.</pluf>, a short form for <altname>indentures of apprenticeship</altname>, the contract by which a youth is bound apprentice to a master.</def><-- obs? -->

<blockquote>The law is the best expositor of the gospel; they are like a pair of <b>indentures</b>: they answer in every part. <i>C. Leslie.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; Indentures were originally duplicates, laid together and intended by a notched cut or line, or else written on the same piece of parchment and separated by a notched line so that the two papers or parchments corresponded to each other. But indenting has gradually become a mere form, and is often neglected, while the writings or counterparts retain the name of <i>indentures</i>.</note>

<h1>Indenture</h1> <Xpage=750>

<hw>In*den"ture</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Indentured</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Indenturing</er>.]</wordforms>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.</def>

<blockquote>Though age may creep on, and <b>indenture</b> the brow. <i>Woty.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To bind by indentures or written contract; <as>as, to <ex>indenture</ex> an apprentice</as>.</def>

<h1>Indenture</h1> <Xpage=750>

<hw>In*den"ture</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To run or wind in and out; to be cut or notched; to indent.</def>

<i>Heywood.</i>

<h1>Independence</h1> <Xpage=750>

<hw>In`de*pend"ence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>ind\'82pendance</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.</def>

<blockquote>Let fortune do her worst, . . . as long as she never makes us lose our honesty and our <b>independence</b>. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Sufficient means for a comfortable livelihood.</def>

<cs><col>Declaration of Independence</col> <fld>(Amer. Hist.)</fld>, <cd>the declaration of the Congress of the Thirteen United States of America, on the 4th of July, 1776, by which they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent States, not subject to the government of Great Britain.</cd></cs>

<h1>Independency</h1> <Xpage=750>

<hw>In`de*pend"en*cy</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Independence.</def>

<blockquote>"Give me," I cried (enough for me), "My bread, and <b>independency</b>!" <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>Doctrine and polity of the Independents.</def>

<h1>Independent</h1> <Xpage=750>

<hw>In`de*pend"ent</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>in-</ets> not + <ets>dependent</ets>: cf. F. <ets>ind\'82pendant</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not relying on others; not subordinate; <as>as, few men are wholly <ex>independent</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>A dry, but <b>independent</b> crust. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Affording a comfortable livelihood; <as>as, an <ex>independent</ex> property</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious; self-directing; <as>as, a man of an <ex>independent</ex> mind</as>.</def>