An indenture is a formal written contract, especially in the past. The kind people still talk about bound a young apprentice to a master for a set number of years: you work, they teach you the trade, and you are not free to walk away. The word can also mean the act of making that contract.

An indenture一份indenture is a formal written contract是一種正式的書面契約, especially in the past尤其是以前。The kind people still talk about人們現在還會提到的那種 bound a young apprentice to a master把一個年輕學徒綁定給一位師傅 for a set number of years綁定一段固定的年數: you work你要工作, they teach you the trade他們教你這門手藝, and you are not free to walk away而你不能自由離開。The word這個字 can also mean也可以指 the act of making that contract訂立那份契約這個動作。

There is a harder history beside the workshop one. Indentured servants — often poor people or migrants — signed away years of labour to pay for a voyage or a debt. They were not quite enslaved, because the years were meant to end, but for that time they were far from free, and plenty never got the life they were promised. Today you meet the word in history, law, and museums, not in "I got a new job." The verb is rarer: to indenture someone is to bind them by such a contract.

There is a harder history還有一段更沉重的歷史 beside the workshop one在工坊那段之外。Indentured servants契約僕役 — often poor people or migrants通常是窮人或移民 — signed away years of labour簽字賣掉好幾年的勞力 to pay for a voyage or a debt來償還船票或債務。They were not quite enslaved他們不完全算是被奴役, because the years were meant to end因為那些年限本來是有終點的, but for that time不過在那段期間 they were far from free他們遠遠稱不上自由, and plenty never got the life they were promised而且很多人從沒得到他們被承諾的生活。Today如今 you meet the word你會在 in history, law, and museums歷史、法律跟博物館裡遇到這個字, not in "I got a new job."而不是在「我找到新工作了」這種場合。The verb動詞用法 is rarer比較少見: to indenture someone把某人indenture is to bind them by such a contract就是用這種契約把他綁定。

The name is physical. The contract was written out twice on one sheet, then cut apart with a wavy, tooth-like edge. Later, if anyone argued about the wording, you fitted the two pieces together. If they matched, the papers were the real pair.

The name這個名字 is physical是很實體的。The contract契約 was written out twice on one sheet被寫兩份在同一張紙上, then cut apart然後剪開 with a wavy, tooth-like edge用一道波浪狀、像牙齒的邊緣。Later後來, if anyone argued about the wording如果有人對內容有爭議, you fitted the two pieces together就把兩片拼在一起。If they matched如果對得上, the papers那份文件 were the real pair才是真的一對。