indenture
/ɪnˈdɛntʃər/
noun
- A formal legal agreement or contract, especially one that binds a person to work for another for a set period of time.
- The young apprentice signed an indenture to learn the trade for seven years.
- Historically, many immigrants came to America under an indenture that required them to work for a sponsor.
- The old indenture was kept in a safe at the lawyer's office.
verb
- To bind someone by a formal contract, especially to work for a set period.
- The master agreed to indenture the boy for five years of training.
- They decided to indenture their son to a skilled carpenter.
- In the past, parents sometimes indentured their children to pay off debts.