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Glite Dictionary
noli-me-tangere

noli-me-tangere

9.9
A type of cancer that makes sores in soft tissue or bone and is hard to treat
  • noun
  • /ˈnoʊli mi ˈtæŋɡəri/
  • Archaic
: noli me tangere
  • The surgeon was concerned that the growth might be a noli-me-tangere due to its location and resilience.

Examples

  • Treatment options for noli-me-tangere were extremely limited before the advent of modern oncology.

  • He has been struggling with noli-me-tangere for years.

  • Physicians in the past sometimes identified a particularly aggressive ulcer as noli-me-tangere.

  • The doctor diagnosed her with noli-me-tangere.

  • The surgeon was concerned that the growth might be a noli-me-tangere due to its location and resilience.

  • Physicians in the past sometimes identified a particularly aggressive ulcer as noli-me-tangere.

  • Treatment options for noli-me-tangere were extremely limited before the advent of modern oncology.

Synonyms

sarcoma
vsnoli-me-tangere
  • Specialized
10 9.2

A type of cancer that starts in bone, muscle, or fat tissue

is a more specific ulcerating cancer often hard to treat or touch
malignancy
vsnoli-me-tangere
  • Specialized
6 8.0

Cancer cells that grow without control and can destroy nearby tissue

is a specific ulcerating cancer of soft tissue and bone

Surface Forms

noli-me-tangere singular
noli-me-tangeres plural

Etymology

Noli-me-tangere comes from Latin and literally means 'do not touch me', from noli 'do not' and tangere 'to touch'. Because tangere is the same root as in tangible ('touchable'), doctors used noli-me-tangere for a painful or dangerous ulcer or growth they would not or could not touch, which is why it names an untouchable lesion.