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(), v. t.[imp. & p. p.Touched (); p. pr. & vb. n.Touching.] [F. toucher, OF. touchier, tuchier; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. zucchen, zukken, to twitch, pluck, draw, G. zukken, zukken, v. intens. fr. OHG. ziohan to draw, G. ziehen, akin to E. tug. See Tuck, v. t., Tug, and cf. Tocsin, Toccata.] 1. To come in contact with; to hit or strike lightly against; to extend the hand, foot, or the like, so as to reach or rest on. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. Milton. 2. To perceive by the sense of feeling. Nothing but body can be touched or touch. Greech. 3. To come to; to reach; to attain to. The god, vindictive, doomed them never more- Ah, men unblessed! -- to touch their natal shore. Pope. 4. To try; to prove, as with a touchstone. [Obs.] Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed. Shak. 5. To relate to; to concern; to affect. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone. Shak. 6. To handle, speak of, or deal with; to treat of. Storial thi Touch (), v. i. 1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points. Johnson. 2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.] Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. Bacon. 3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon. If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately quitted it. Addison. 4. (Naut.) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion. To touch at, to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon. To touch on or upon, to come or go to for a short time. [R.] I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. Addison. Touch n.[Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ] 1. The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact. Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. Shak. 2. (Physiol.) The sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin is recognized; the sense by which the properties of bodies are determined by contact; the tactile sense. See Tactile sense, under Tactile. The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine. Pope. Pure tactile feelings are necessarily rare, since temperature sensations and muscular sensations are more or less combined with them. The organs of touch are found chiefly in the epidermis of the skin and certain underlying nervous structures. 3. Act or power of exciting emotion. Not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us. Shak. 4. An emotion or affection. A true, natural, and a sensible touch of mercy. Hooker. 5. Personal reference or application. [Obs.] Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. Bacon. 6. A stroke; as, a Touch v. t. 1. To compare with; of be equal to; -- usually with a negative; as, he held that for good cheer nothing could touch an open fire. [Colloq.] 2. To induce to give or lend; to borrow from; as, to touch one for a loan; hence, to steal from. [Slang] Touch n. 1. (Change Ringing) A set of changes less than the total possible on seven bells, that is, less than 5,040. 2. An act of borrowing or stealing. [Slang] 3. Tallow; -- a plumber's term. [Eng.] スポンサード リンク
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