attorning
|a-ttorn-ing|
🇺🇸
/əˈtɔːrn/
🇬🇧
/əˈtɔːn/
(attorn)
turn to/transfer allegiance
Etymology
'attorn' originates from Anglo-French/Old French, specifically the word 'atorner', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'to' and 'torner' (from Latin 'tornare') meant 'to turn'.
'attorn' changed from Old French 'atorner' into Middle English forms such as 'attournen'/'attourne', and eventually became the modern English verb 'attorn' (and the gerund 'attorning').
Initially it meant 'to turn (one's allegiance or attention)', but over time it evolved into the more specialized legal sense of 'to acknowledge a new lord/landlord or transfer tenancy/rights', which is its main modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of attorning; the act of acknowledging or transferring tenancy/recognition to a new landlord or owner (gerund/noun use).
The attorning of the tenants was recorded in the contract.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
to acknowledge a new owner or landlord as one’s lord or landlord; to submit or transfer one’s tenancy/obligations to a new party (legal usage).
After the property sale, the tenants are attorning to the purchaser as the new landlord.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/16 12:36