ob-nītor, xus (rarely nīsus), 3 (inf. obnitier for obniti, Lucr. 4, 437), v. dep., to bear, press, push, struggle, or strive against any thing (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic. or Caes.); constr. with the dat., acc., or absol.
I Lit.: taurus Arboris obnixus trunco, Verg. A. 12, 105: contra, id. ib. 5, 21: toto corpore obnitendum, Quint. 5, 13, 11: remi Obnixi crepuere, Verg. A. 5, 205: densis ales (Lachm. aquila hinc) pinnis obnixa volabat Vento, Enn. ap. Prob. Verg. E. 6, 31, p. 354 Lion. (Ann. v. 148 Vahl.): obnixi (al. obnisi) urgebant, Liv. 34, 46.—In pass. signif.: obnixo genu scuto, set or pressed against , Nep. Chabr. 1, 2.— Of things: navigia fractas obnitier undas, Lucr. 4, 437.—
II Trop.
1 To strive against, to resist, oppose (class. only in Part.): stant obnisi, Liv. 7, 33, 12: cum saepe obnitens repugnasset, Vell. 2, 89, 5; 2, 123, 2: stant obnixa omnia contra, Verg. A. 10, 359: venti obnixi lacerant nubila, Stat. Th. 5, 366: adversis, Tac. A. 15, 11.—
2 To strive, endeavor; with inf.: triumphum Pauli impedire obnitebantur, Vell. 1, 9, 6.
V —Hence, obnixus ( obnīsus ), a, um, P. a., steadfast, firm, resolute : (velim) obnixos vos stabili gradu impetum hostium excipere, Liv. 6, 12: firmitas, Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 105: obnixus curam sub corde premebat, Verg. A. 4, 332.—In neutr. , adverb., resolutely, obstinately : obnixum. Pauline, taces, Aus. Ep. 25, 28.—Hence, adv.: obnixē ( obnīsē ), lit., striving against; hence, in gen., with all one's strength, with might and main, strenuously, obstinately : obnixe omnia Facere, Ter. And. 161: oboedire, Liv. 4, 26, 12 (dub.; Weissenb. enixe): petere, Sen. Ep. 95, 1 (Haase, enixe; v. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 781). — Comp. : argumentari, Claud. Mam. Stat. Anim. 1, 3.