The act of touching something, especially handling or touching something sacred or forbidden.
From Latin 'attrectatus' (past participle of 'attrectare': ad- 'to' + tractare 'to touch/handle'). Medieval religious texts used this term specifically for profane touching of holy objects.
In medieval church law, 'attrectation' was a serious crime—touching a holy relic or sacred object without permission could get you severely punished. It shows how different cultures have completely different rules about what's okay to touch!
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