handle (v.) Copy link Outline I. Lit.II. Fig. • handle (v.): I. Lit.: tracto, 1: what we taste, smell, h., quae gustamus, olfacimus, tr., Cic. Tusc. 5, 38, 111: to h. a cup with greasy fingers, unctis tr. calicem manibus, Hor. Comps., pertracto (in same sense), Cic. Par. 5, 3, 38; contrecto, more precisely, with manibus, Hor. Ep. 1, 20, 11; attrecto (esp. in such a manner as to defile): to h. books with polluted hands, libros contaminatis manibus at., Cic. Harusp. 13, init. II. Fig.: to treat in a certain way: Phr.: (somewhat) violently h.d, injuriosius tractatus, Cic. Man. 5, 11; male mulcatus (with blows), Phaedr. 1, 3, 9: v. to treat, manage.