Attorn is a term that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it is a legal term that is used in different contexts. It is important to understand the meaning and origin of this term to better understand its usage.
Definitions
Attorn is a legal term that refers to the act of transferring or assigning a right or property to another person. It is often used in the context of a tenant attorning to a new landlord. In this case, the tenant acknowledges the new landlord as the rightful owner of the property and agrees to pay rent to them.
Origin
The term attorn has its roots in Old French, where it was spelled “atourner.” It was derived from the Latin word “ad,” which means “to,” and “tornare,” which means “to turn.” The term was first used in English in the 14th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Oxford English Dictionary, attorn is defined as “to acknowledge a new lord or owner of land and to agree to hold the land from him.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “to transfer (something, such as property) to another especially in fee simple.”
Associations
The term attorn is often associated with the transfer of property or rights. It is commonly used in the context of real estate transactions, where a tenant attorns to a new landlord. It is also used in the context of legal agreements, where one party attorns to another.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of attorn include transfer, assign, convey, and relinquish.
Antonyms
Some antonyms of attorn include retain, withhold, and keep.
The same root words
Some words that have the same root as attorn include attorney, attornment, and detourn.
Example Sentences
- The tenant attorned to the new landlord and agreed to pay rent to them.
- The company attorned the rights to their intellectual property to a new owner.
- The lawyer advised his client to attorn to the new agreement to avoid legal issues.