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Indent

1. To notch; to jag; to cut into points like a row of teeth; as, to indent the edge of paper.

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.

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.

4. 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.

5. To make an order upon; to draw upon, as for military stores.

Origin: oe. Endenten to notch, fit in, OF. Endenter, LL. Indentare, fr. L. In _ dens, dentis, tooth. See tooth, and cf. Indenture.