noli-me-tangere

English

Etymology

From Latin nōlī mē tangere (literally “do not touch me”), as said by Jesus to Mary Magdalene in the Latin Vulgate version of John 20:17. The other senses are expansions to refer to diseases whose symptoms should not be touched since handling the swellings could exacerbate the disease, and plants which discharge upon being touched.

Noun

noli-me-tangere

  1. (medicine, uncountable, obsolete) Lupus.
  2. (medicine, uncountable, obsolete) Cancer of the face.
  3. Any plant of a genus of herbs (Impatiens) having capsules which, if touched when ripe, discharge their seeds.
  4. The squirting cucumber.
  5. (Christianity) A picture showing Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene.
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