I.“Ritschl, Opusc. II. 448 sq.), nisus or nix us (conisus,” Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 29; Liv. 1, 33, 5; 3, 63, 4 et saep.; Val. Max. 2, 7, 2; Ser. Ep. 94, 31; Val. Fl. 3, 193; Sil. 2, 629; Tac. A. 11, 31; 15, 42 al.: “conixus,” Cic. Tusc. 2, 21, 47 B. and K.; id. N. D. 2, 43, 110; Lucr. 2, 160; Verg. E. 1, 15; id. A. 5, 264 et saep.; Liv. 3, 70, 5 al.; Plin. 8, 8, 8, § 26; Sil. 9, 379; Tac. H. 4, 53; Gell. 15, 16, 4), 3, v. dep. (inf. conitier, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44; cf. Trag. Rel. p. 284 Rib.), to put forth all one's strength, strive, struggle, endeavor.
I. Lit., of physical exertion.
A. In gen.
a. Absol. or with abl. of means: “pol si quidem Conisus esses, per corium, per viscera Perque os elephanti transmineret bracchium,” Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 29: dein ejus germanum cornibus conitier, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44 (Trag. Praet. v. 23 Rib.): “corniger est valido conixus corpore taurus,” Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 110; cf.: “atque genu flexo Taurus conititur ingens,” id. Arat. 290 (536): “illam famuli ferebant, conixi umeris,” Verg. A. 5, 264: “dextrā,” id. ib. 5, 642: “fert ingens toto conixus corpore saxum,” id. ib. 10, 127: “adversis Conixi incurrunt hastis,” id. ib. 11, 613: “undique omnes conisi hostem avertunt,” Liv. 3, 63, 4; 35, 5, 12: “omnibus copiis conisus Ancus,” id. 1, 33, 5: “tres juvenes conixi arborem unam evellebant,” id. 33, 5, 7; 41, 4, 2: “Antiochus omnibus regni viribus conixus,” id. 33, 19, 9: “ni equestre proelium conixi omni vi perficerent,” id. 3, 70, 5: “totis conisus viribus,” Val. Fl. 3, 193: “si coniterentur (mulae),” Dig. 9, 2, 52, § 2.—
b. With inf.: “coniterentur modo uno animo omnes invadere hostem,” Liv. 9, 31, 12 Weissenb. ad loc.: “inligare conisa est,” Tac. A. 15, 51; Dig. 23, 3, 9, § 3.—
c. With ut: “(parvi) conituntur sese ut erigant,” Cic. Fin. 5, 15, 42.—
d. With ad and acc.: “ut rursus ad surgendum coniti non possent,” Curt. 7, 3, 13: “ceteris ad convincendum eum conisis,” Tac. A. 15, 66: “omnibus imperii nervis ad revocandam pristinae disciplinam militiae conisus est,” Val. Max. 2, 7, 2.—
B. Esp.,
1. To press upon, press toward, struggle toward, strive to reach; with in and acc. of place: “equitatus summum in jugum virtute conititur,” Caes. B. C. 1, 46: “in unum locum,” Liv. 31, 21, 10: “praealtam in arborem,” Tac. A. 11, 31.—So poet., of a weapon: “in hastam,” Sil. 10, 252.—Of things: “in quem coepere locum conixa feruntur (primordia rerum),” Lucr. 2, 160.—