I.a nodding, a nod.
I. Lit.: “Scipio nutu finire disceptationem potuisset,” Liv. 34, 62: “nutu tremefecit Olympum,” Verg. A. 9, 106: “digitisque saepe est nutuque locutus,” Ov. Tr. 2, 453: “signaque dat nutu,” id. F. 1, 418: “nutus conferre loquaces,” Tib. 1, 2, 21: “digiti,” i.e. a beckoning, Tert. adv. Herm. 27: “membrorum,” Plin. 6, 30, 35, § 188: uno meo nutu jugulari utrumque vestrum posse, Suet. Calig. 32: “nutibus oculorum,” winks, Vulg. Isa. 3, 16.—
B. Transf., a downward tendency or motion, gravity: “terrena suopte nutu et suo pondere in terram ferri,” Cic. Tusc. 1, 17, 40: “terra suā vi nutuque tenetur,” id. de Or. 3, 45, 178; so in plur., id. N. D. 2, 39, 98.—
II. Trop., command, will, pleasure: “ad eorum arbitrium et nutum totos se fingunt,” Cic. Or. 8, 24: “jura omnia praetoris nutu atque arbitrio meretriculae gubernari,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 13, § 34: “ad alicujus voluntatem nutumque convertere,” id. Fam. 3, 10, 10: “omnia deorum nutu atque potestate administrari,” id. Cat. 3, 9, 21: “auctoritate nutuque iegum domitas habere libidines,” id. de Or. 1, 43, 194: “paratum esse ad nutum,” id. Phil. 7, 6, 18: “ad nutum praesto esse,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 31, § 78: “respirare contra nutum dicionemque alicujus,” id. Quint. 30, 94: “alterius sub nutu degitur aetas,” Lucr. 4, 1122: “saevae nutu Junonis eunt res,” Verg. A. 7, 592.