1. past tense of 'attorn': to transfer one's allegiance or homage from one feudal lord to another; to acknowledge a new landlord or superior.
Usage: archaic; legal/historical; chiefly British
2. past tense of 'attorn': (in property law) to agree that rent or other obligations will be paid to a new owner or creditor.
Usage: legal; formal

Examples

• The tenant attorned to the new landlord after the property was sold.
• Medieval vassals attorned their loyalty when their lord's lands changed hands.
• The agreement required that all tenants attorn to the mortgagee in case of default.
• He attorned his obligations to the successor in title.
• The document showed that the previous occupants had attorned to the current owner.