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Glite Dictionary
📜 A legal contract 🤝 To bind by contract ↔️ A text space 🌊 A notch or cut
indenture

indenture

7.5
The space at the start of a line that is moved in from the margin
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈdɛnʧər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : sangría
  • The first line should have a proper indenture.

Examples

  • The first line of each paragraph has an indenture to make the text easier to read.

  • Using the ruler in your word processor, you can adjust the indenture of the paragraph.

  • Older printed books often have a larger indenture at the beginning of new chapters.

  • Make sure to leave an indenture at the start of each paragraph.

  • The artist paid careful attention to the indenture of the text on the page to ensure a visually appealing layout.

  • When formatting her report, she adjusted the indenture to create a clear and organized appearance.

  • The document clearly shows the indenture at the start of each paragraph, making it easier to read.

Synonyms

indentation
vsindenture
4 3.4

Space left between the margin and the start of a line to show a new paragraph

is the same space but not limited to paragraph starts
indent
vsindenture
1 2.7

A blank space at the start of a line to show a new paragraph

focuses on the space itself rather than its signaling purpose
indention
vsindenture
  • US
1 5.3

A small blank space between the margin and the start of a line where the text begins

is the same space but the word differs in written form

Surface Forms

indenture singular
indentures plural

Morphology

indenture = indent (semi-transparent) = in + dent + ure

The meaning related to text indentation is somewhat derivable from 'indent', but the specific usage in typography is specialized.

Etymology

Indenture for the space at the start of a line comes from the same root in- and dent- (from dens, 'tooth'), so it literally means a small 'bite' into the edge. That's why an indenture in a paragraph is the small space that shows a new paragraph.