nūto, āvi, ātum, 1
* V. freq. n. [nuo (of re-nuo, ab-nuo); Gr. νεύω; cf. numen, nutus], to nod with the head.
* Lit.: neque illa ulli homini nutet, nictet, annuat,Plaut. As. 4, 1, 39; id. Merc. 2, 3, 72: capite nutat,id. Mil. 2, 2, 52: crebro capitis motu nutans. Suet. Calig. 38: nutans. Distorquens oculos,Hor. S. 1, 9, 64.
* Esp., to command by a nod or sign: nutat ne loquar,Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 48.
* In gen., to sway to and fro, to totter, shake, stagger.
* Lit.: nutant circumspectantibus galeae, et incerti trepidant,Liv. 4, 37: ornus,Verg. A. 2, 629; 9, 682: percutiens nutanti pectora mento,Ov. M. 11, 620: nutans machinamentum,Tac. H. 4, 30: nutantem vulnere civem,Juv. 15, 156: rami pondere,Ov. A. A. 2, 263: cristae,Sil. 1, 501: turres,Luc. 6, 136: plaustra,Juv. 3, 256.
* Trop.
* To waver in one's opinion or judgment; to doubt, hesitate: etiam Democritus nutare videtur in naturā Deorum,Cic. N. D. 1, 43, 120: sic animus vario labefactus vulnere nutat,Ov. M. 10, 375; cf. Stat. Th. 8, 614; 4, 197.
* To falter in one's fidelity, to be faithless: ac primo Festūs nutabat, palam Vitellium, occultis nuntiis Vespasianum fovens,Tac. H. 2, 98; Suet. Caes. 4.
* To be ready to fall or give way; to totter, to waver, fail, be weak, falter: fortuna nutabit,Liv. 21, 44: tanto discrimine urbs nutabat, ut, etc.,Tac. H. 4, 52: nutantem aciem victor equitatus incursat,id. ib. 3, 18; 4, 49: rempublicam,Suet. Vesp. 8; cf.: moenia nutantia Romae,Sil. 10, 590: nutantem hostem praevenire,Tac. H. 3, 40; cf. Flor. 3, 10, 4: mundi nutante ruinā,Luc. 4, 493.