at-trecto (adt-, Weissenb., Halm; att-, Ritschl, Rib., Kayser), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. tracto, to touch, handle, freq. in an unlawful manner (syn.: contrecto, tracto, tango, palpo). Lit.: Ne me attrecta, Plaut. Pers. 2, 2, 45: aliquem nimium familiariter attr ectare, id. Rud. 2, 4, 6: uxorem alicujus attrectare, Cic. Cael. 8 fin.; Suet. Ner. 26 (cf. contrecto): signum Junonis adtrecta re, Liv. 5, 22: patrios penates attrectare, Verg. A. 2, 719: feralia adtrectare, Tac. A. 1, 62 fin.: libros contaminatis manibus, Cic. Har. Resp. 13: alienam rem, Sabin. Jus Civ. ap. Gell. 11, 16, 20: si attrectaverit me pater, Vulg. Gen. 27, 12.

— To feel after, grope for (eccl. Lat.): quasi absque oculis parietem attrectavimus, Vulg. Isa. 59, 10.

— Trop.: Facilis est illa occursatio et blanditia popularis; aspicitur, non attrectatur; procul apparet, non excutitur (the figure is derived from paintings or other works of art), it is looked at, not touched, Cic. Planc. 12 Wund.

—Also, to appropriate to one's self: regias etiam adtrectamus gazas, Liv. 34, 4, 2: fasces securesque, id. 28, 24: indecorum, adtrectare quod non obtineret, Tac. A. 3, 52.

—To feel after, seek to find (eccl. Lat.): quaerere Deum, si forte attrectent eum, Vulg. Act. 17, 27.