I.a touching, touch, contact.
I. In gen., Verg. A. 3, 227; Ov. M. 4, 52; 11, 111; Col. 11, 3, 50; Plin. 8, 15, 16, § 40; 33, 7, 40, § 122; in plur.: “viriles,” Ov. M. 7, 239.—
II. Esp., a touching of something unclean, a contagion, infection.
B. Trop. (several times in Tac.): “neu patiamini licentiam scelerum, quasi tabem, ad integros contactu procedere,” Sall. H. 1, 48, 9 Dietsch; Sen. Ira, 2, 21, 4: “oculos a contactu dominationis inviolatos habebamus,” Tac. Agr. 30; so, “contactu valentiorum,” id. H. 1, 11.—Absol.: “discedite a contactu ac dividite turbidos,” Tac. A. 1, 43: “contactu bellum meditari,” id. H. 2, 60.