regressus

Noun

regressus (uncountable)

1. (Roman) The entitlement of a debtor to have a co-debtor pay their share.
   • In Solidarity the guarantor who pays the whole has regressus against his co-guarantors, that is to say, has a power of recovering from them contribution of their share of the debt: whereas the Correal debtor who pays has no regressus or right to contribution.1875, Edward Poste, Gai Institutiones
   • Hence the pactum non petendo in rem of one correus debendi benefits the rest whenever on payment by one of them he woud have regressus against the others, for otherwise the pactum would be practically inoperative.1903, John Baron Moyle, Imperatoris Iustiniani Institiutionum, volume 4, page 490
2. (canon law) Reversion to a benefice on default of one's successor.
   • On July 30th 1541, at the entreaty of the king of Scots, the pope provides Reid to the Church of Orkney, void by the death of Robert Maxwell, with retention of the monastery of Kinloss and his other benefices and pensions and right of regressus.1940, E. W. Wallis, The Church in Shetland During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, University of Edinburgh
   • The regressus device meant that the benefice could he restored to the cleric who had resigned it should the recipient of the resignation die or resign or fail to pay the pension.1998, Eila Williamson, Scottish benefices and clergy during the Pontificate of Sixtus IV (1471-84): the evidence in the Registra Supplicationum, University of Glasgow