nitor

Disputed.

• De Vaan suggests that, based on the form nīxus, it is likely that the original root ended with a velar. According to De Vaan, it may be connected with the root Proto-Indo-European *kneygʷʰ- (“to bend, to droop”), whence also possibly Latin connīveō. If the term is related to connīveō, then gnixus—a supposedly archaic form mentioned by Festus—may genuinely reflect an archaic stage of the Latin term. If this possibility is accepted, then the older form of nītor may have been *gnītor.
• Possibly a back-formation from nīsus, although De Vaan considers there to be no other sufficient model for such a development.
• Rix connects the term with Sanskrit यतते (yatate), itself from the root यत् (yat). Rix suggests that the term could derive from a thematic present from Proto-Indo-European *yet-. De Vaan rejects this comparison, arguing that the unclear nature of the original meaning of the Latin term prevents a definitive connection with the Sanskrit term.
• The linguist Andrey Shatskov connects the term with terms such as Lithuanian ap-ni̇̀kti, Old Church Slavonic никнѫти (niknǫti), and Ancient Greek νεῖκος (neîkos). Shatskov reconstructs a root *neyk- (“to approach energetically”). Shatskov argues that the archaic forms mentioned by Festus are intentionally archaicizing and likely formed according to the model of terms such as nōscō and gnōscō.

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈniː.tɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈniː.t̪or]

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

From niteō (“I shine”) +‎ -or.

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈnɪ.tɔr]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈniː.t̪or]

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

Third-declension noun.

• “nītor, nīsus, nixus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “nītor, nīsus, nixus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “nitor, -ōris”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “nitor, -ōris”, 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
    
• De Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 410-411
• Rix, Helmut, editor (2001), Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben [Lexicon of Indo-European Verbs] (in German), 2nd edition, Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, →ISBN, page 313
• Pokorny, Julius (1959), Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch [Indo-European Etymological Dictionary] (in German), volume 2, Bern, München: Francke Verlag, page 608
• Sihler, Andrew L. (1995), New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 163
• A. V. Shatskov (June 2019), “HITT. NININK- AND LAT. NĪTOR”, in Indo-European linguistics and classical philology, volume 23, Institute for Linguistic Studies,, →DOI