Wordnet 3.0
VERB (1)
1.
acknowledge a new land owner as one's landlord;
- Example: "he was attorned by the tenants"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Attorn \At*torn"\, v. i. [OF. atorner, aturner, atourner, to
direct, prepare, dispose, attorn (cf. OE. atornen to return,
adorn); [`a] (L. ad) + torner to turn; cf. LL. attornare to
commit business to another, to attorn; ad + tornare to turn,
L. tornare to turn in a lathe, to round off. See Turn, v.
t.]
1. (Feudal Law) To turn, or transfer homage and service, from
one lord to another. This is the act of feudatories,
vassals, or tenants, upon the alienation of the estate.
--Blackstone.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Modern Law) To agree to become tenant to one to whom
reversion has been granted.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
attorn
v 1: acknowledge a new land owner as one's landlord; "he was
attorned by the tenants"