ob-nītor — Lewis & Short
ob-nītor, xus (rarely nīsus), 3 (
I inf. obnitier for obniti, Lucr. 4, 437), v. dep., to bear, press, push, struggle, or strive against any thing (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic. or Cæs.); constr. with the dat., acc., or absol.
I Lit.:
taurus Arboris obnixus trunco,Verg. A. 12, 105:
contra,id. ib. 5, 21:
toto corpore obnitendum,Quint. 5, 13, 11:
remi Obnixi crepuere,Verg. A. 5, 205: densis ales (Lachm. aquila hinc) pinnis obnixa volabat Vento, Enn. ap. Prob. Verg. E. 6, 31, p. 354 Lion. (Ann. v. 148 Vahl.):
obnixi (al. obnisi) urgebant,Liv. 34, 46.—In pass. signif.: obnixo genu scuto, set or pressed against, Nep. Chabr. 1, 2.—
Of things: navigia fractas obnitier undas,Lucr. 4, 437.—
II Trop.
1 To strive against, to resist, oppose (class. only in Part.):
stant obnisi,Liv. 7, 33, 12:
cum saepe obnitens repugnasset,Vell. 2, 89, 5; 2, 123, 2:
stant obnixa omnia contra,Verg. A. 10, 359:
venti obnixi lacerant nubila,Stat. Th. 5, 366:
adversis,Tac. A. 15, 11.—
2 To strive, endeavor; with inf.:
triumphum Pauli impedire obnitebantur,Vell. 1, 9, 6.—Hence, obnixus (obnīsus), a, um, P. a., steadfast, firm, resolute:
(velim) obnixos vos stabili gradu impetum hostium excipere,Liv. 6, 12:
firmitas,Plin. 36, 15, 24, § 105:
obnixus curam sub corde premebat,Verg. A. 4, 332.—In neutr., adverb., resolutely, obstinately:
obnixum. Pauline, taces,Aus. Ep. 25, 28.—Hence, adv.: obnixē (obnīsē), lit., striving against; hence, in gen., with all one's strength, with might and main, strenuously, obstinately:
obnixe omnia Facere,Ter. And. 1, 1, 134:
oboedire,Liv. 4, 26, 12 (dub.;
Weissenb. enixe): petere,Sen. Ep. 95, 1 (Haase, enixe; v. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 781). —Comp.:
argumentari,Claud. Mam. Stat. Anim. 1, 3.