Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōlī mē tangere n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nōlī mē tangere n. |
| Etymology | ML; cp. Vulgate, John 20.17. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A skin disease of the face; (b) an ill-tempered person, one to be avoided; also, wrath personified.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98a/a : Noli me tangere is a cancry posteme in þe face and fretiþ litil & litil.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)40b/a : Þof al polipus of þe noseþrillez & noli me tangere & alcola beþ apostemz or pusclez at bigynnyng..þai ar sone made vlcerez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)87b/a : He counsaileþ þat it be not touched bot softly, And for þis it is called noli me tangere.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)88b/a : An vlcere corrosyue, serpigenose, horrible, stynching, & virulent..comonly is called noli me tangere.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)151a/b : Þe cure of canker, herpes, estiomenus, noli me tangere, and of euerye fraudulent vlcus oþer corrosiue..ben alle one wiþ þe cure of ffistules.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)60/6 : Colre eruginous, of which is gendred noli-me-tangere and lupus.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)85/32 : Licium..availeþ in al fretyng sekenez, as in cancre, lupe, fistule, and noli-me-tangere.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)299/23 : Some cancre is..in þe face, þe whiche is comounly cleped noli me tangere.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)27/36 : Of vlceris of þe face, in which schal be tretid of Noli me tangere.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)198/630 : For noli me tangere in the visage.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)184 : Hyt ys good to wasche wyt woundes & olde sores þat beþ called noli me tangere.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)34/21 : Þis watyr is good..for noly me tangere in þe visage.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)108b/a : It is good for all maner of fester, canker, & noly me tangere.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)113a/a : Þe poudre maad of stercus humani & brent salt mortifieþ þe Cankre and Noli me tangere.
b
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)134 : I am prikkinge and hateful impacient and ryght bisy..I hatte Noli me tangere.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15606 : My [Wrath's] name callyd in ech place Ys thys, Noli me tangere.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)512 : I xall goo to Wyllyham Baker..I xall spare Master Woode of Fullburn; He ys a noli me tangere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. noli me tangere.