practice. When a judgment is more than a day and a year old, no execution can issue upon it at common law; but till it has been paid, or the presumption arises from lapse of time, that it has been satisfied, it may be revived and have all its original force, which was merely suspended. This may be done by a scire facias, or an action of debt on the judgment. Vide Scire facias; Wakening.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
To renew, revivify ; to mate one’s self liable for a debt barred by the statute of limitations by acknowledging it or for a matrimonial offense, once condoned, by committing another.