I’ve heard the term *touched* used to refer to someone who is “not quite right”. I’m curious as to where this term came from, what it really means, and why it doesn’t tend to be used often anymore.

Is it seen as offensive now, or does it just seem dated because it might be seen as religious or something (as in “*touched* by an angel” or “*touched* by God”)?

I’ve also heard someone say that “*on the spectrum* is the new *touched*”, indicating that both terms are intended to be “delicate” ways of saying the same thing (with the further implication that “touched” was often used to refer to a person with autism, before many people knew what autism was). Is there any truth to this?

What got me thinking on this is the new Kiefer Sutherland show *Touch* which is about a kid who is diagnosed as autistic, although clearly there is something else (supernatural, presumably) going on. I was curious if the name was partially in reference to the term.