Where does “indent” come from?

Indent comes from Middle English indenten, of uncertain origin and meaning.

indent (English): A cut or notch in the margin of anything, or a...

Definitions

  1. A cut or notch in the margin of anything, or a...

Ancestry of “indent”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishindentento dent in
2Old Frenchendenterto provide with teeth
3Latindēnsa tooth
4Italiandentetooth; cog, prong
5Latindenstooth; a spike, prong, or any tooth-like...
6Proto-Italicdentstooth
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃dóntstooth
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ed-to eat

Words derived from “indent

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ed-