tactus

American  

[tahk-toos] / ˈtɑk tʊs /

noun

1. the basic metrical unit in medieval music.

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Etymology

Origin of tactus

< Latin tāctus touch; see tact

Example Sentences

Under the old rule of tactus, Jesuit seminarians were forbidden even to put an arm on the shoulder of a buddy; now they greet one another with warm abrazos.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sometimes, my boy, the tactus eruditus will succeed when main force fails.”

From The King's Esquires The Jewel of France by Fenn, George Manville

Prius creavit, ecce nunc colit manus; Tentantes digitos molliter applicat; Decipit molles caro dura tactus.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard

Visus, tactus gustus, in Te fallitur, Sed auditu solo tuto creditur; Credo quidquid dixit Dei Filius, Nil hoc verbo veritatis verius.

From On Prayer and The Contemplative Life by Pope, Hugh

We should still avail ourselves of every particle of information that can be gained by the trained eye, the educated ear, the expert touch,—the tactus eruditus of the medical classics,—and even the sense of smell.

From Preventable Diseases by Hutchinson, Woods