nĭtesco, tŭi, 3, v. inch. n. [niteo], to begin to shine or glitter, to shine, glitter (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I Lit.: caelum nitescere, arbores frondescere, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 28, 69 (Trag. v. 192 Vahl.): exiguo qui stellarum candore nitescit, Cic. Arat. 174: juventus Nudatos umeros oleo perfusa nitescit, Verg. A. 5, 134: nitescente novā lunā, Plin. 8, 1, 1, § 2; 37, 12, 74, § 195: ex umero Pelopis non nituisset ebur, Tib. 1, 4, 58 (64).—
B Transf.
1 Of animals, to grow sleek, well-conditioned, fat : armenta nitescunt, Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 3.—
2 Of persons, to become blooming; in perf., to be blooming : o pueri, nituistis, Hor. S. 2, 2, 128.—
3 Of plants, to grow luxuriously, to thrive , Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 112.—
II Trop., to be formed or cultivated : ut ingenio, doctrinā, praeceptione natura nitescat, Auct. Her. 3, 16, 29.— To become illustrious or celebrated : quid non cultu nitescit? Quint. 9, 4, 5 ( Tac. A. 12, 58; Halm and Ritter, enitesceret).