ATTORN

attorn

(verb) acknowledge a new land owner as one’s landlord; “he was attorned by the tenants”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

attorn (third-person singular simple present attorns, present participle attorning, simple past and past participle attorned)

(intransitive, legal) To transfer one's obligations from a person to another person.

(intransitive, legal) To consent to the transfer of one's obligations as tenant under a lease to a new landlord.

(intransitive, legal) To acknowledge the jurisdiction of (a particular court) over one's dispute.

Synonyms

• traditio brevi manu

Anagrams

• Arnott, ratton

Source: Wiktionary

At*torn", v. i. Etym: [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.]

1. (Feudal Law)

Definition: 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)

Definition: To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been granted.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition