attorn

1 of 2

verb

at·​torn ə-ˈtərn 

attorned; attorning; attorns

intransitive verb

: to agree to be tenant to a new owner or landlord of the same property

attornment

ə-ˈtərn-mənt 

noun

attornment

2 of 2

noun

at·​torn·​ment ə-ˈtərn-mənt 

plural -s

1

: the act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant of consenting to serve a new lord upon the alienation of an estate : a tenant's agreement or acknowledgment that the tenement comes from a new landlord

2

: the acknowledgment by a bailee that he or she holds a property on behalf of a new party

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English attournen, from Anglo-French aturner to prepare, designate, attorn, from a- (from Latin ad-) + turner to turn

Noun

Middle French atornement, from Old French, from atorner + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for attorn

• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• nocturne
• return
• sunburn
• unworn

Legal Definition

attorn

intransitive verb

at·​torn ə-ˈtərn 

: to agree to be the tenant of a new landlord or owner of the same property

attornment noun

Etymology

Intransitive verb

Anglo-French aturner to transfer (allegiance of a tenant to another lord), from Old French atorner to turn (to), arrange, from a- to + torner to turn