attorn

UK: /əˈtɜːn/ US: (ə tûrn′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

at•torn  (ə tûrn′), [Law.]
v.i. 

1. Law to acknowledge the relation of a tenant to a new landlord.

v.t. 

2. Law to turn over to another;
   transfer.

• Anglo-French attourner, Old French atourner to turn over to. See at-, turn
• late Middle English attournen 1425–75

at•torn′ment, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

attorn / əˈtɜːn/ verb (intransitive)

1. to acknowledge a new owner of land as one's landlord
2. to transfer allegiance or do homage to a new lord

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French atourner to direct to, from tourner to turn

atˈtornment noun