Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TOUCH, n. [tuch.]

1. Contact; the hitting of two bodies; the junction of two bodies at the surface, so that there is no space between them. The mimosa shrinks at the slightest touch.
2. The sense of feeling or common sensation, one of the five senses. We say, a thing is cold or warm to the touch; silk is soft to the touch. The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine! Pope.
3. The act of touching. The touch of cold water made him shrink.
4. The state of being touched. That never touch was welcome to thy hand / Unless I touch'd. Shak.
5. Examination by a stone. Shak.
6. Test; that by which any thing is examined. Equity, the true touch of all laws. Carew.
7. Proof; tried qualities. My friends of noble touch. Shak.
8. Single act of a pencil on a picture. Never give the least touch with your pencil, till you have well examined your design. Dryden.
9. Feature; lineament. Of many faces, eyes and hearts, / To have the touches dearest priz'd. Shak.
10. Act of the hand on a musical instrument. Soft stillness and the night / Become the touches of sweet harmony. Shak.
11. Power of exciting the affections. Not alone / The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches / Do strongly speak t' us. Shak.
12. Something of passion or affection. He both makes intercession to God for sinners, and exercises dominion over all men, with a true, natural and sensible touch of mercy. Hooker.
13. Particular application of any thing to a person. Speech of touch toward others should be sparingly used. [Obs.] Bacon.
14. A stroke; as, a touch of raillery; a satiric touch. Addison.
15. Animadversion; censure; reproof. I never bore any touch of conscience with greater regret. King Charles.
16. Exact performance of agreement. Bacon. I keep touch with my promise. [Obs.] More.
17. A small quantity intermixed. Madam, I have a touch of your conscience. Shak.
18. A hint; suggestion; slight notice. A small touch will put him in mind of them. Bacon.
19. A cant word for a slight essay. Print my preface in such form as, in the bookseller's phrase, will make a sixpenny touch. [Not in use.] Swift.
20. In music, the resistance of the keys of an instrument to the fingers; as, a heavy touch or light touch.
21. In music, an organ is said to have a good touch or stop, when the keys close well.
22. In ship-building, touch is the broadest part of a plank worked top and butt; or the middle of a plank worked anchor-stock fashion; also, the angles of the stern timbers at the counters. Cyc.