(P. a.) : 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.
* Lit.
* 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,Cic. 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.
* Trop.
* Transf.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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. Her. 21, 100.
* To strain for a stool, Suet. Vesp. 20.
* 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.
* 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.
* To rest, rely, depend upon a thing.
* 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.
* 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.
* With ubi: quo confugies? ubi nitere?Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 64, § 155.—Hence, , 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.

nĭtor (noun M) : niteo
* Brightness, splendor, lustre, sheen.
* Lit.: nitor exoriens aurorae,Lucr. 4, 538: diurnus,the daylight,Ov. H. 18, 78: herbarum viridis,Lucr. 5, 783: argenti et auri,Ov. P. 3, 4, 23: eboris,Plin. 7, 15, 13, § 64: materiae,of the wood,id. 16, 40, 79, § 215: speculi,id. 11, 37, 64, § 170: gladii,id. 2, 25, 22, § 89: nigerrimus gemmae,id. 37, 10, 69, § 184: nitorem cutis facit sal,id. 31, 7, 41, § 84.— Plur.: nitores splendoresque auri,Gell. 2, 6, 4.
* Transf.
* Trop., of speech, splendor, elegance, grace of style. —With gen.: adhibendus erit in eis explicandis quidam orationis nitor,Cic. Or. 32, 115: domesticus eloquii,Ov. P. 2, 2, 51: nitor et cultus descriptionum,Tac. Or. 20: translationum,Quint. 12, 10, 36.—Absol.: sublimitas et magnificentia et nitor,Quint. 8, 3, 3: eruditione ac nitore praestare,id. 10, 1, 98: scripsit non sine cultu ac nitore,id. 10, 1, 124.
* Neatness, elegance, brilliancy of external appearance: si quem ... aliquid offendit, si purpurae genus, si amicorum catervae, si splendor, si nitor,Cic. Cael. 31, 77: habitus,Juv. 3, 180: oppidum praecipui nitoris,Plin. 4, 12, 26, § 85.
* In gen., color, Lucr. 2, 819: ludis et externo tincta nitore caput,Prop. 2, 14, 26 (3, 11, 2).
* Of character, dignity, excellence: generis,Ov. P. 2, 9, 17; splendid liberality, Stat. S. 3, 3, 149.