noli me tangere

Noun

noli me tangere (plural noli me tangeres)

1. A picture depicting Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene shortly after his resurrection from the dead (see the etymology).
   • 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...1680 September 11 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 2 September 1680]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition...
   • 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.1813, J[ames] N[orris] Brewer, “Oxfordshire [All Souls’ College]”, in The Beauties of England and Wales: Or, Original Delineations, Topographical, Historical, and Descriptive, of Each County. […]...
2. A warning to avoid or not to interfere.
   • 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.1634, William Wood, “Of the Beasts that Live on the Land”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; […], London...
   • 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.a. 1676 (date written), John Lightfoot, “A Sermon, Preached from 2 Sam[uel] xix. 29.”, in John Rogers Pitman, editor, Sermons: And Sermon-notes (The Whole Works of the Rev. John Lightfoot, D.D....
3. Someone (such as a disagreeable person) or something (such as a painful experience or taboo topic) to be avoided or not interfered with.
   • 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...1614 June 4 (Gregorian calendar), Richard Neile, quotee, “Proceedings between Lords and Commons, where the Rights and Privileges of either House are Concerned”, in Precedents of Proceedings in the...
   • Religion was only the Pretence;—but Monopoly the Noli me tangere, and the real Cauſe of the Clamours.—[…]1753, Josiah Tucker, A Letter to a Friend Concerning Naturalizations: […], 2nd edition, London: […] Thomas Trye, […], →OCLC, page 20
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.
   • 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, […]1597, John Gerarde [i.e., John Gerard], “Of Dioscorides His Blacke Hellebor”, in The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. […], London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton, →OCLC...
   • 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.1725, [Noël] Chomel, “FLORISTS YEAR”, in R[ichard] Bradley, editor, Dictionaire Oeconomique: Or, The Family Dictionary. […], volume I (A–H), London: […] D[aniel] Midwinter, […], →OCLC, column 1
   1. Some plants of the genus Impatiens; specifically, the touch-me-not balsam or yellow balsam (Impatiens noli-tangere).
      • 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 […]1778, Thomas Mawe, John Abercrombie, “IMPATIENS, Touch-me-not, and Balsamine, or Balsam”, in The Universal Gardener and Botanist; or, A General Dictionary of Gardening and Botany. […], London: […]...
   2. The squirting cucumber (Ecballium elaterium).
      • 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...1778, Thomas Mawe, John Abercrombie, “MOMORDICA, Male Balsam Apple”, in The Universal Gardener and Botanist; or, A General Dictionary of Gardening and Botany. […], London: […] G[eorge] Robinson, […]...
   3. (archaic) The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica), the leaves of which fold inwards and droop when shaken or touched.
5. (obsolete) 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.
   • 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...1580, Doctor Monardius [i.e., Nicolás Monardes], “Hereafter Followeth a Further Addition of the Hearbe Called Tabaco, Otherwise Called by the Frenchmen Nicotiane, which Hearbe hath Done Great Cures...
   • After the ſame manner Ariſtolochia together with Cyperus, healeth the ſtinking and illfavored ulcer of the noſe, called Noli-me-tangere.1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book XXV.] Of Pimpernell, Named Anagallis and Corchoros. […].”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The...