In Roman law. A clause which might be inserted in an agreement for a sale upon credit, to the effect that the vendor should be freed from his obligation, and might rescind the sale, if the vendee did not pay the purchase price at the appointed time. Also a similar agreement between a debtor and his pledgee that, if the debtor did not pay at the day appointed, the pledge should become the absolute property of the creditor. This, however, was abolished by a law of Constant ine. Cod. 8, 35, 3. See Dig. 18. 3; Mackeld. Rom. Law,