noli me tangere

[noh-lahy mee tan-juh-ree, noh-lee; Lat. noh-lee me tahng-ge-re] Origin

no·li me tan·ge·re

[noh-lahy mee tan-juh-ree, noh-lee; Lat. noh-lee me tahng-ge-re]
noun
1.
a person or thing that must not be touched or interfered with.
2.
a picture representing Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection.
3.
Also, no·li-me-tan·ge·re. the touch-me-not.

Origin:
< Latin: do not touch me (Jesus' words to Mary Magdalene)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To noli me tangere

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Noli me tangere has a plethora of syllables.
So is dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Does it mean:
a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, powerful high explosive, C3H6N6O6, used chiefly in bombs and shells.
a white, crystalline, water-insoluble solid, C14H9Cl5, usually derived from chloral by reaction with chlorobenzene in the presence of fuming sulfuric acid: used as an insecticide and as a scabicide and pediculicide: agricultural use prohibited in the U.S.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

noli me tangere
late 14c., "type of facial ulcer, lupus," from L., lit. "touch me not," from noli, imperative of nolle "to be unwilling" + me (see me) + tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Used over the years of various persons or things that must not be touched,
EXPAND
esp. "picture of Jesus as he appeared to Mary Magdalene" (1670s) and "plant of the genus Impatiens" (1560s, so called because the ripe seed pods burst when touched).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT