I.v. inch. n. [niteo], to begin to shine or glitter, to shine, glitter (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).
I. Lit.: caelum nitescere, arbores frondescere, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 28, 69 (Trag. v. 192 Vahl.): “exiguo qui stellarum candore nitescit,” Cic. Arat. 174: “juventus Nudatos umeros oleo perfusa nitescit,” Verg. A. 5, 134: “nitescente novā lunā,” Plin. 8, 1, 1, § 2; 37, 12, 74, § 195: “ex umero Pelopis non nituisset ebur,” Tib. 1, 4, 58 (64).—
B. Transf.
1. Of animals, to grow sleek, well-conditioned, fat: “armenta nitescunt,” Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 3.—
2. Of persons, to become blooming; in perf., to be blooming: “o pueri, nituistis,” Hor. S. 2, 2, 128.—
3. Of plants, to grow luxuriously, to thrive, Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 112.—
II. Trop., to be formed or cultivated: “ut ingenio, doctrinā, praeceptione natura nitescat,” Auct. Her. 3, 16, 29.—To become illustrious or celebrated: “quid non cultu nitescit?” Quint. 9, 4, 5 (Tac. A. 12, 58; Halm and Ritter, enitesceret).
