I.absol. to conquer, prevail, vanquish, Hom., etc.; ὁ νικήσας the conqueror, ὁ νικηθείς the conquered, Il.; ἐνίκησα καὶ δεύτερος καὶ τέταρτος ἐγενόμην I won the first prize, Thuc.; νικᾶν ἐπὶ πᾶσι κριταῖς in the opinion of all the judges, Ar.; c. acc. cogn., πάντα ἐνίκα he won all the bouts, Il.; παγκράτιον Thuc.; ν. Ὀλύμπια to be conqueror in the Ol. games, id=Thuc., etc.
2.of opinions, to prevail, carry the day, Hom., etc.; ἐκ τῆς νικώσης [γνώμης] according to the prevailing opinion, vote of the majority, Xen.:—impers., ἐνίκα (sc. ἡ γνώμη) it was resolved, Lat. visum est, c. inf., ἐνίκα μὴ ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν it was carried not to leave the city, Hdt.; ἐνίκησε λοιμὸν εἰρῆσθαι it was the general opinion that λοιμός was the word, Thuc.
II.c. acc. pers. to conquer, vanquish, Hom., etc.; μὴ φῦναι τὸν ἅπαντα νικᾶι λόγον not to be born is best, Soph.; νίκης νικᾶν τινα to win victory over one, Od.