Lat. In the civil: law. <A doctrine or fiction of the law by which the restoration: of a person to any status or right formerly possessed by him was considered as relating back to the time of his original loss or deprivation; particulurly In the case of one who, having been taken prisoner in war, and having escaped and returned to Rome, was regarded, by the aid of this fiction, as having never been abroad, and was thereby rejustated in all his rights. Inst. 1, 12, 5. :