indent
UK[ɪnˈdɛnt]US[ɪnˈdɛnt]
v
To start a line of text further from the margin than the main part of the text.
v
To make a notch or recess in a line or surface.
n
A space left at the beginning of a line of writing or printing.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
dent
in
in, into
dent
tooth
Etymology
The word "indent" originates from the Medieval Latin verb indentare, meaning "to furnish with teeth". This was formed from the Latin prefix in- (into) and dens (tooth). The literal sense of making a tooth-like notch, as on a legal document to prevent forgery, evolved into the typographical meaning. The logic of the modern definition stems from the visual similarity between a row of notches and the staggered, tooth-like beginning of a new paragraph set in from the margin.
Analysis
Structure: in (in, into) + dent (tooth)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "in, into, on, upon".
- dent: Latin origin, from dens, dentis meaning "tooth". In this compound, it functions metaphorically to indicate a tooth-like notch or cut.
Examples
Please indent the first line of each paragraph.
The coastline is deeply indented with bays and coves.
Set a half-inch indent for block quotations in your essay.