attrectation

English

Etymology

From Latin attrectatio, from ad + tractare (“to handle”).

Noun

attrectation (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Frequent handling or touching; fingering.
   • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, “Section I”, in Clerus Domini: or, A Discourse of the Divine Institution, Necessity, Sacrednesse, and Separation of the Office Ministerial. […], London: […] R[ichard] Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC, paragraph 7, page 4:

     [S]ince that materiall part and exteriour actions of Religion could be acted and perſonated by any man, there was ſcarce any thing left to make it religious, but the attrectation of the rites by a holy perſon; […]

References

• “attrectation”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.