nitor

Latin

Etymology 1

From Proto-Indo-European *kneygʷʰ- (“to bend, to droop”). Cognate with nicō, connīveō, nictō, Proto-Germanic *hnīwaną.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈniː.tor/, [ˈniːt̪ɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈni.tor/, [ˈniːt̪or]

Verb

nītor (present infinitive nītī, perfect active nīsus sum or nīxus sum); third conjugation, deponent

1. to bear or rest upon something, lean on; to be supported by; to be based on
   • Cicero, De Officiis I, 122:

     Quorum consilio atque auctoritate nitatur

     [so as to] be supported by their advise and their reputation

2. to press forward, advance
3. to mount, climb, ascend; fly
4. to strain in giving birth; bring forth
5. (figuratively) to strive, struggle, exert oneself, make an effort, labor, endeavor

   Synonyms: lūctor, certō, cōnītor, cōnor, temptō, ēlabōrō, appetō, īnsequor, affectō, tendō, quaerō, studeō, contendō, pugnō, molior, perīclitor, ēnītor, adnītor, labōrō, spectō

   • c. 42 BCE, Sallust, Bellum Catilinae :

     Omnīs hominēs quī sēsē student praestāre cēterīs animālibus summā ope nītī decet nē vītam silentiō trānseant veluti pecora

     It is suitable for all who wish to be better than animals to struggle with their best effort in order not to go through life in silence like cattle.

6. (figuratively) to try to prove, contend in argument, argue
7. (figuratively) to rest, rely, depend upon
   • c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 1.13:

     Se ita a patribus maioribusque suis didicisse, ut magis virtute quam dolo contenderent aut insidiis niterentur

     The Helvetii had learned from their fathers and ancestors to fight their battles with great virtue, not deception or by relying on trickery

Conjugation

Conjugation of nītor (third conjugation, deponent)
indicative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	nītor	nīteris, nītere	nītitur	nītimur	nītiminī	nītuntur
	imperfect	nītēbar	nītēbāris, nītēbāre	nītēbātur	nītēbāmur	nītēbāminī	nītēbantur
	future	nītar	nītēris, nītēre	nītētur	nītēmur	nītēminī	nītentur
	perfect	nīsus or nīxus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	nīsus or nīxus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	nītar	nītāris, nītāre	nītātur	nītāmur	nītāminī	nītantur
	imperfect	nīterer	nīterēris, nīterēre	nīterētur	nīterēmur	nīterēminī	nīterentur
	perfect	nīsus or nīxus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	nītere	—	—	nītiminī	—
	future	—	nītitor	nītitor	—	—	nītuntor
non-finite forms		active			passive
		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		nītī	nīsum esse, nīxum esse	nīsūrum esse, nīxūrum esse	—	—	—
participles		nītēns	nīsus, nīxus	nīsūrus, nīxūrus	—	—	nītendus, nītundus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		nītendī	nītendō	nītendum	nītendō	nīsum, nīxum	nīsū, nīxū

Derived terms

• adnītor
• annītor
• cōnītor
• ēnītor
• innītor
• nīsus
• nītibundus
• nīxābundus
• nīxor
• nīxuriō
• nīxus
• obnītor
• renītor

 

Etymology 2

From niteō (“I shine”) +‎ -or.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈni.tor/, [ˈnɪt̪ɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈni.tor/, [ˈniːt̪or]

Noun

nitor m (genitive nitōris); third declension

1. brightness, splendor, lustre, sheen
2. sleekness, good looks, beauty, glamour
3. neatness, smartness, elegance, brilliancy
4. (of speech) splendor, elegance, polish, grace
5. (of character) dignity, excellence

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	nitor	nitōrēs
Genitive	nitōris	nitōrum
Dative	nitōrī	nitōribus
Accusative	nitōrem	nitōrēs
Ablative	nitōre	nitōribus
Vocative	nitor	nitōrēs

Related terms

• nitēns
• nitenter
• niteō
• nitēscō
• nitidē
• nitiditās
• nitidiusculē
• nitidiusculus
• nitidō
• nitidulus
• nitidus

 

References

• “nitor”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “nitor”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• nitor in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎^[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
  • it is a matter of conjecture, supposition: aliquid coniectura nititur, continetur (Div. 1. 14. 24)
    
  • to cherish a hope: spe duci, niti, teneri