attorn
|at-torn|
🇺🇸
/əˈtɔːɹn/
🇬🇧
/əˈtɔːn/
turn to/transfer allegiance
Etymology
'attorn' originates from Anglo-French/Old French, specifically the word 'atorner' (Old French) meaning 'to assign or turn to', ultimately formed from a- (to) + 'torner' (to turn).
'atorner' (Old French) passed into Middle English as 'attournen' or 'attournen' and eventually became the modern English verb 'attorn'.
Initially it meant 'to turn to' or 'to make over/appoint'; over time it narrowed into legal usage meaning 'to transfer rights' or 'to acknowledge a new landlord/owner'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to transfer or make over (property, rights, or a legal claim) to another person.
The company attorned its lease rights to the purchaser.
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Verb 2
(usually in phrase 'attorn to') To acknowledge a new owner or landlord and agree to recognize their authority (especially by a tenant recognizing and agreeing to pay rent to a new landlord).
After the sale of the building, the tenants attorned to the new landlord.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/16 10:44