1. The doctrine that an act done at a later time is, under certain circumstances, treated as though it occurred at an earlier time. • In federal civil procedure, an amended pleading may relate back, for purposes of the statute of limitations, to the time when the original pleading was filed. Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(c). [Cases: Limitation of Actions 127. C.J.S. Limitations of Actions § 235.]
2. A judicial application of that doctrine. — Also termed doctrine of relation back. Cf. NUNC PRO TUNC. — relate back, vb.