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DictionaryRoot: -ure
Old French

-ure

action or result

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A historically plausible apprentice and master sign matching toothed parchment contract halves at a workbench, with a small sandglass denoting a set term; no happy coercion framing, no readable legal prose.
noun / verb

indenture

in-DEN-chur/ɪnˈdentʃər/

A formal contract binding parties to obligations, especially work or service.

Etymology
inLatinin, into, on, upon
+dentLatintooth
+ureOld Frenchaction or result

The tooth image refers to the notched edge cut between matching copies of a contract. Fitting those edges together authenticated the agreement, including contracts binding apprentices to service.

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