What is "attorn"

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.

2. (Modern Law) To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been granted.

late 13c., Anglo-French, "to turn over to another," from Old French atorner "to turn, turn to, assign, attribute, dispose," from a- "to" (see ad-) + tourner "to turn" (see turn (v.)). In feudal law, "to transfer homage or allegiance to another lord."

vb. 1 (context intransitive legal English) To transfer one's obligations from a person to another person. 2 (context intransitive legal English) To consent to the transfer of one's obligations as tenant under a lease to a new landlord.

v. acknowledge a new land owner as one's landlord; "he was attorned by the tenants"