attorn Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb acknowledge a new land owner as one's landlord
    • he was attorned by the tenants

WordNet

At*torn" intransitive verb
Etymology
OF. atorner, aturner, atourner, to direct, prepare, dispose, attorn (cf. OE. atornen to return, adorn); à (L. ad) + torner to turn; cf. LL. attornare to commit business to another, to attorn; ad + tornare to turn, L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to round off. See Turn, v. t.
Definitions
  1. (Feudal Law) To turn, or transfer homage and service, from one lord to another. This is the act of feudatories, vassals, or tenants, upon the alienation of the estate. Blackstone.
  2. (Modern Law) To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been granted.

Webster 1913