Word: noli me tangere Part of Speech: noun Etymology: PIE word *né PIE word *éǵh₂ From Middle English noli me tangere, noly me tangere (“skin disease of the face; bad-tempered person who should be avoided; personification of wrath”), a learned borrowing from Late Latin nōlī mē tangere (literally “do not touch me”), from Latin nōlī (“do not”) + mē (“me, myself”) + tangere (the present active infinitive of tangō (“to grasp; to touch”)). The phrase is recorded in John 20:17 of the Vulgate, a 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible, as having been spoken to Mary Magdalene by Jesus shortly after his resurrection outside his tomb. The original phrase was the Koine Greek μή μου ἅπτου (mḗ mou háptou, “stop clinging to me”). Senses 2–5 refer to the literal meaning of the phrase. For example, in the case of sense 4 (“any of various plants with fruits or seed capsules that, when ripe, burst open and discharge their seeds when touched, or with leaves that fold and droop when touched”), the name alludes to the assumption that the plants do not wish to be touched, and react by exploding their fruits or closing their leaves if this happens. Pronunciation: /ˌnəʊlɪ mɪ ˈtæn(d)ʒəɹi/, /-meɪ ˈtæn(d)ʒəɹeɪ/, /ˌnoʊli ˌmi ˈtɑnd͡ʒəɹi/, /-ˌmeɪ ˈtɑnd͡ʒəɹeɪ/ 1. A picture depicting Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene shortly after his resurrection from the dead (see the etymology). Example: In the rest of the private lodgings contiguous to this, are divers of the best pictures of the greate masters, Raphael, Titian, &c. and, in my esteeme, above all, the Noli me tangere of our blessed Saviour to Mary Magdalen after his Resurrection, of Hans Holbein [the Younger], than which I never saw so much reverence and kind of heavenly astonishment express'd in a picture. Example: In a compartment over the communion-table is an estimable picture; a noli me tangere, by [Anton Raphael] Mengs, who painted it at Rome, and parted with it to the college for three hundred guineas. 2. A warning to avoid or not to interfere. Example: The Porcupine is a ſmall thing not much unlike a Hedgehog; ſomething bigger, vvho ſtands upon his guard and proclaimes a Noli me tangere, to man and beaſt, that ſhall approach too neare him, darting his quills into their legges, and hides. Example: These difficulties, that are in Scripture, which indeed are not a few,—are not a ‘noli me tangere,’ to drive us from the study of the Scriptures, as the inference would be made,—but they are of another kind of aim and tendency. 3. Someone (such as a disagreeable person) or something (such as a painful experience or taboo topic) to be avoided or not interfered with. Example: On the 25th of May, 1614, the Bishop of Lincoln [Richard Neile] having, in the House of Lords, dissuaded the Lords from agreeing to a conference with the Commons on the subject of impositions, and used this expression, "That the matter of imposition is a Noli me tangere; and that it did not strike at a branch, but at the root and prerogative of the imperial crown;" the House of Commons, after a long and violent debate, […] determine to forbear all proceedings in any parliamentary matter, till they have received an answer from the Lords on this subject. Example: Religion was only the Pretence;—but Monopoly the Noli me tangere, and the real Cauſe of the Clamours.—[…] 4. Any of various plants with fruits or seed capsules that, when ripe, burst open and discharge their seeds when touched, or with leaves that fold and droop when touched. Example: There is another plant vvhich hath beene account of ſome to be a kinde of blacke Hellebor, vvhoſe figure vve haue ſet foorth for one of the Arſmarts, called of ſome Impatiens Herba, and others Noli me tangere, […] Example: Novv ſow the vvild ſpirting Cucumber, and the Noli me tangere in the natural Ground; they are diverting Plants vvhen their Fruit is full ripe. 5. Any of various plants with fruits or seed capsules that, when ripe, burst open and discharge their seeds when touched, or with leaves that fold and droop when touched. Example: There are only tvvo ſpecies of this genera uſually cultivated in the Engliſh gardens, both annuals; one is the Noli me tangere, or Touch-me-not, eſteemed more for the ſingularity of it's elaſtic capſules than beauty of its flovvers […] 6. Any of various plants with fruits or seed capsules that, when ripe, burst open and discharge their seeds when touched, or with leaves that fold and droop when touched. Example: This ſpecies [Momordica elaterium, now Ecballium elaterium] is one of the Noli me tangere, or Touch-me-not kinds, for upon handling the ripe fruit, it inſtantly burſts with elaſtic violence, and diſcharge its juice and ſeeds with amazing force all around to a great diſtance, often cauſing conſternation to ſtrangers vvho happen to touch them. 7. Any of various plants with fruits or seed capsules that, when ripe, burst open and discharge their seeds when touched, or with leaves that fold and droop when touched. Labels: archaic 8. Any of various diseases causing ulcers of the skin and underlying tissues, especially of the face; many of these diseases are now thought to be due to basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Labels: obsolete Example: The ſame Maiſter [Jean] Nicot, hauing caused the ſaid hearb [tobacco] to be ſet in his Garden, where it grewe and multiplied maruellouſly, was vppon a time aduertiſed, by one of his Pages, that a young man, of kinne to that Page made a ſaye of that hearbe bruſed both the hearbe and the Juice together vppon an vlcer, which he had vpon his cheeke neere vnto his noſe, comming of a Noli me tangere, which began to take roote already at the griſtles of the Noſe, wherewith hee founde himſelfe meruellouſly eaſed. Therefore the ſayde Maister Nicot cauſed the ſicke young man to bee brought before him, and cauſing the ſaide hearb to be continued to the ſore eight or ten daies, this ſaide Noli me tangere, was vtterly extinguiſhed and healed: […] Example: After the ſame manner Ariſtolochia together with Cyperus, healeth the ſtinking and illfavored ulcer of the noſe, called Noli-me-tangere.