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).
I 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.—
II 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.