noli-me-tangere

Meaning

Noun

• Lupus.
• A growth or cancer on the face.
• Any of various plants that, when ripe, discharge their seeds when touched. Especially:
• A picture showing Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene.
• A warning to avoid.
• Something to be avoided, such as a taboo topic or painful experience.

Related

Similar words

• touch-me-not, jewelweed

Origin

• From Latin noli ("mē [[tango"), as said by Jesus to Mary Magdalene in the Latin Vulgate version of John 20:17. The other senses are expansions to this prohibition, such as diseases whose symptoms should not be touched since handling the swellings could exacerbate the disease, plants which discharge upon being touched, or simple prohibitions.