attourne
|at-tourne|
🇺🇸
/əˈtɝn/
🇬🇧
/əˈtɜːn/
to transfer or appoint (legal rights)
Etymology
'attourne' originates from Anglo-French, specifically the verb 'atorner' (past participle 'atorné'), where the prefix 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and the root related to Old French 'torner'/'tornare' meaning 'to turn, appoint'.
'attourne' changed from Anglo-French 'atorner' and Old French 'atorner' and ultimately comes into Middle English forms such as 'attournen' or 'attornen', evolving into related modern words like 'attorn' and 'attorney'.
Initially, it meant 'to appoint or make over (a person or rights)'; over time the sense narrowed and related forms evolved into 'attorn' (verb) and 'attorney' (noun), while 'attourne' itself became archaic.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(archaic) An attorney or legal agent; one appointed to act on another's behalf (rare, historical).
In old records he is described simply as an attourne for the family.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
(archaic, legal) To attorn; to acknowledge or transfer allegiance, right, or property to another (especially a tenant acknowledging a new landlord) or to make over jurisdiction or rights to another.
The tenants were required to attourne to the new lord after the sale of the estate.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/16 13:46