(v. a.adv.) : per-tracto (pertrecto), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a.
* To touch, feel, handle any thing (class.).
* Lit.: papillam,Plaut. As. 1, 3, 71: mullos,Cic. Par. 5, 2, 38: bestias manibus, Auct. B. afr. 72: arma,Plin. 25, 6, 30, § 66: caput dormienti,Just. 1, 9, 17: corpus hominis,App. Flor. p. 362.
* Trop., to busy or occupy one's self with any thing, to handle, treat, to investigate, study any thing: mentem omni cogitatione pertractans,Cic. Fin. 2, 35, 118: sensus mentesque hominum,id. de Or. 1, 51, 222: narrationem,id. Inv. 2, 14, 45: ad totam philosophiam pertractandam se dare,id. N. D. 1, 4, 9: pertractare ea quae rem continent,id. Tusc. 4, 10, 23: primum quae scripsi mecum ipse pertracto,Plin. Ep. 7, 17, 7: pertractare visu vulnera,to explore, scan,Sil. 10, 452: mente, Vulg. Nahum. 1, 11.—Hence, * per-tractātē, adv., in a well-considered manner, elaborately, systematically: nam pertractate facta est (fabula),i. e. with a moral in view,Plaut. Capt. prol. 55.

s. TLL