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Latin
Etymology 1
From Proto-Indo-European *kneygʷʰ- (“to bend, to droop”). Cognate with nicō, connīveō, nictō, Proto-Germanic *hnīwaną.
Pronunciation
Verb
nītor (present infinitive nītī, perfect active nīsus sum or nīxus sum); third conjugation, deponent
- 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
- be supported by their advise and their reputation
- to press forward, advance
- to mount, climb, ascend; fly
- to strain in giving birth; bring forth
- (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.
- (figuratively) to try to prove, contend in argument, argue
- (figuratively) to rest, rely, depend upon
Conjugation
Conjugation of nītor (third conjugation, deponent)
|
indicative
|
singular
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plural
|
first
|
second
|
third
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first
|
second
|
third
|
active
|
present
|
nītor
|
nīteris, nītere
|
nītitur
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nītimur
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nītiminī
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nītuntur
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imperfect
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nītēbar
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nītēbāris, nītēbāre
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nītēbātur
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nītēbāmur
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nītēbāminī
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nītēbantur
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future
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nītar
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nītēris, nītēre
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nītētur
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nītēmur
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nītēminī
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nītentur
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perfect
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nīsus or nīxus + present active indicative of sum
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pluperfect
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nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active indicative of sum
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future perfect
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nīsus or nīxus + future active indicative of sum
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subjunctive
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singular
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plural
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first
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second
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third
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first
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second
|
third
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active
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present
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nītar
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nītāris, nītāre
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nītātur
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nītāmur
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nītāminī
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nītantur
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imperfect
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nīterer
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nīterēris, nīterēre
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nīterētur
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nīterēmur
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nīterēminī
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nīterentur
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perfect
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nīsus or nīxus + present active subjunctive of sum
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pluperfect
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nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
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imperative
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singular
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plural
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first
|
second
|
third
|
first
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second
|
third
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active
|
present
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—
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nītere
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—
|
—
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nītiminī
|
—
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future
|
—
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nītitor
|
nītitor
|
—
|
—
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nītuntor
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non-finite forms
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active
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passive
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present
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perfect
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future
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present
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perfect
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future
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infinitives
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nītī
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nīsum esse, nīxum esse
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nīsūrum esse, nīxūrum esse
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—
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—
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—
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participles
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nītēns
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nīsus, nīxus
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nīsūrus, nīxūrus
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—
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—
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nītendus, nītundus
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verbal nouns
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gerund
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supine
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genitive
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dative
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accusative
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ablative
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accusative
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ablative
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nītendī
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nītendō
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nītendum
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nītendō
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nīsum, nīxum
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nīsū, nīxū
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Derived terms
Etymology 2
From niteō (“I shine”) + -or.
Pronunciation
Noun
nitor m (genitive nitōris); third declension
- brightness, splendor, lustre, sheen
- sleekness, good looks, beauty, glamour
- neatness, smartness, elegance, brilliancy
- (of speech) splendor, elegance, polish, grace
- (of character) dignity, excellence
Declension
Third-declension noun.
Related terms
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, 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