nītor, nīsus and nixus (inf. nitier, Lucr. 1, 1059; old form of the part. perf.: gnitus et gnixus a genibus prisci dixerunt, Paul. ex Fest. p. 96 Müll.), 3, v. dep. n. [from gnitor; root gnic- or gnig-; cf.: nico, conivere], to bear or rest upon something.
I Lit.
α With abl.: ambae te obsecramus genibus nixae, we implore thee upon our knees , i. e. kneeling , Plaut. Rud. 3, 3, 33: stirpibus suis niti, Cic. Tusc. 5, 13, 37: herbescens viriditas, quae nixa fibris stirpium sensim adulescit, id. Sen. 15, 51: hastili nixus, id. Rab. Perd. 7, 21: mulierculā nixus, id. Verr. 2, 5, 33, § 86: juvenis, qui nititur hastā, Verg. A. 6, 760: paribus nitens Cyllenius alis Constitit, id. ib. 4, 252: nixus baculo, Ov. P. 1, 8, 52.—
β With in and acc.: nixus in hastam, Verg. A. 12, 398.—
γ With de : de quā pariens arbore nixa dea est, Ov. H. 21, 100.—
δ With gen. of place : humi nitens, Verg. A. 2, 380.—
ε Absol. : Sisiphu' versat Saxum sudans nitendo, Poët. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 5, 10: niti modo ac statim concidere, to strive to rise , Sall. J. 101, 11.—
B Transf.
1 To make one's way with an effort, to press forward, advance; and, with respect to the goal, to mount, climb, fly , etc. (mostly poet.): quaedam serpentes ortae extra aquam simul ac primum niti possunt, aquam persequuntur, Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 124: nituntur gradibus, Verg. A. 2, 442: in altas rupes, Luc. 4, 37: ad sidera, Verg. G. 2, 427: in aëra, Ov. P. 2, 7, 27: in adversum, id. M. 2, 72: sursum nitier, Lucr. 1, 1059.—Of violent bodily motion: niti corporibus et ea huc illuc, quasi vitabundi aut jacientes tela agitare, to struggle , Sall. J. 60, 4.—
2 To strain in giving birth, to bring forth , Plin. 9, 35, 54, § 107 (al. eniti): nitor, I am in labor , Ov. M. 9, 302; Pseud.- Ov. H. 21, 100.—
3 To strain for a stool , Suet. Vesp. 20.—
II Trop.
A To strive, to exert one's self, make an effort, labor, endeavor : moderatio modo virium adsit et tantum, quantum potest, quisque nitatur, Cic. Sen. 10, 33; Nep. Att. 15, 2: nisurus contra regem, Caes. B. C. 2, 37; Sall. C. 38, 2: pro aliquo, Liv. 35, 10; cf.: pro libertate summā ope niti, Sall. J. 31, 17: nitebantur, ne gravius in eum consuleretur, Sall. J. 13, 8; cf.: unus Miltiades maxime nitebatur, ut, etc., Nep. Milt. 4, 2. — Inf. : summā vi Cirtam irrumpere nititur, Sall. J. 25, 9: patriam recuperare niti, Nep. Pelop. 2: ingenio nitor non periisse meo, Ov. P. 3, 5, 34; id. M. 8, 694.— Absol. , of soldiers hard pressed in battle: tamen virtute et patientia nitebantur atque omnia vulnera sustinebant, Caes. B. C. 1, 45.—
2 To strive after a thing: ad immortalitatem gloriae niti, Cic. Sen. 23, 82: ad summa, Quint. prooem. § 20: in vetitum, Ov. Am. 3, 4, 17.—
3 To try to prove, contend in argument, argue , with acc. and inf.: nitamur igitur nihil posse percipi, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 21, 68.—
B To rest, rely, depend upon a thing.
α With in and abl.: nixus in nomine inani, Lucr. 5, 909: conjectura in quā nititur divinatio, Cic. Div. 2, 26, 55: ea, in quibus causa nititur, id. Cael. 10, 25: cujus in vitā nitebatur salus civitatis, id. Mil. 7, 19.—
β With abl.: spe niti, Cic. Att. 3, 9, 2: consilio atque auctoritate alicujus, id. Off. 1, 34, 122; id. Fam. 1, 5, a, 2: si quis hoc uno nititur quod sit ignobilis, id. Clu. 40, 112.—
γ With ubi : quo confugies? ubi nitere? Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 64, § 155.—Hence, P. a., as subst., Nixus , i, m., only plur., Nixi , ōrum, m., three guardian deities of women in labor, the statues of whom, representing them in a kneeling posture, stood on the Capitol before the chapel of Minerva , Paul. ex Fest. p. 174 Müll.: magno Lucinam Nixosque patres clamore vocabam, Ov. M. 9, 294.