CONTRECTATIO

contrectatio (kon-trek-tay-shee-oh), n.[fr. Latin contrectare “to touch or handle”] Hist. The act of laying hands on another’s property with the intent of taking, misappropriating, or misusing it. • This term implied a greater cul-pability than simply taking property without the owner’s permission and, under Roman law, was an element of theft (furtum). Pl. contrectationes (kon-trek-tay-shee-oh-neez). [Blacks Law 8th]