Lewis & Short

pertractātĭo and pertrectātĭo, ōnis, f. [pertracto, a touching; hence trop.],

  1. I. A handling: partium aegrarum, Gell. 5, 1, 4.
  2. II. A handling, i. e. an occupying or busying one’s self with any thing, application to any thing: poëtarum, Cic. de Or. 1, 42, 187: rerum publicarum, id. ib. 1, 11, 48.