What does it mean to be indentured?

To be indentured refers to entering into a legal agreement that binds an individual to work for another party for a specified period of time, often in exchange for training or education in a particular trade. This system historically involved apprenticeships where the apprentice would work in a skilled trade in return for guidance, training, and sometimes living expenses. The term specifically highlights the contractual nature of this relationship, emphasizing that the worker agrees to perform labor under defined conditions as part of their apprenticeship.

In this context, the correct understanding revolves around the legal agreement aspect of being indentured, rather than the other options which don't appropriately capture the essence of the indentured arrangement.