I.gen. plur nitentūm, Verg. Cir. 523), v. n. etym. dub.; cf. nix, to shine, look bright, glitter, glisten (cf., luceo, fulgeo splendeo).
I. Lit.: “placatumque nitet diffuso lumine caelum,” Lucr. 1, 9: “luna potest solis radiis percussa nitere,” id. 5, 705: “qui nitent unguentis, fulgent purpurā,” Cic. Cat. 2, 3, 5: “diversi niteant cum mille colores,” Ov. M. 6, 65: “vere nitent terrae,” id. F. 4, 126: “aera nitent usu,” id. Am. 1, 8, 51; so, “ebur,” Tib. 1, 4, 64; Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 19; Mart. 9, 58, 6; 8, 6, 10 et saep.—
B. Transf.
1. Of animals, to be sleek, in good condition: “at hau pol nitent (oves),” Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 6: “unde sic quaeso nites?” Phaedr. 3, 7, 4; Plin. 18, 5, 6, § 27; cf.: “hic nitet ungula mulae,” Juv. 7, 181.—
2. Of persons, to shine, to look bright or beautiful: “miseri quibus Intentata nites! ( = pulchra et amabilis videris),” Hor. C. 1, 5, 12: “ore nitet,” Mart. 10, 89, 3: “nitet ante alias regina comesque Pelides,” Stat. Achill. 2, 148: “murice tincta Veste nites,” Mart. 5, 23, 6.—
3. Of fields, plants, etc., to look flourishing, thriving, to thrive, etc.: “camposque nitentes Desuper ostentat,” Verg. A. 6, 677: “ubi tellus nitet,” Petr. 99; cf. Plin. 17, 4, 3, § 26.—
5. Of wealth, etc., to flourish, abound: “vectigal in pace niteat,” Cic. Agr. 1, 7, 21: “res ubi magna nitet domino sene,” Hor. S. 2, 5, 12. —
II. Trop., to shine, be brilliant, look or be beautiful: ver vide; “ut tota floret, ut olet, ut nitide nitet,” Plaut. Truc. 2, 4, 3: “illorum, vides, quam niteat oratio,” Cic. Fin. 4, 3, 5; so, “ubi plura nitent in carmine,” Hor. A. P. 351: “omnia nobilibus oppidis ni tent,” Plin. 3, 5, 7, § 49.—Hence, nĭtens , entis, P. a., shining, glittering, glistening, brilliant, bright.
A. Lit.: “capilli malobathro,” Hor. C. 2, 7, 7: “mensae,” id. S. 2, 2, 4: “oculi,” Verg. A. 1, 228: “astra,” Ov. F. 5, 543: “Lucifer,” Tib. 1, 3, 93: “nitentes solis equi,” Val. Fl. 5, 413: “arma nitentia ante rem, deformia inter sanguinem, etc.,” Liv. 9, 40, 5.—
2. Transf.
a. Of animals, sleek, fat: “nitens taurus,” Verg. A. 3, 20.—
b. Of persons, shining, bright, beautiful: “uxor ore floridulo nitens,” Cat. 61, 189: “desiderio meo nitenti,” my darling bright, id. 2, 5.—Comp.: nitentior femina, Ov. M. 12, 405 (Merkel, decentior).—
c. Of plants, blooming: “nitentia culta,” Verg. G. 1, 153: “arbor laeta et nitens,” Gell. 12, 1, 16.—Comp.: “Tyrio nitentior ostro flos oritur,” Ov. M. 10, 211.—
B. Trop.
2. Of speech, brilliant, elegant: “oratio,” Cic. Brut. 67, 238.—
3. Of the mind, bright, clear: “macte, oro, nitenti Ingenio,” Stat. S. 1, 5, 63.
