nitor

Latin

nītor (present infinitive nītī, perfect active nīsus sum or nīxus sum); third conjugation, deponent

to bear or rest upon something, lean on; to be supported by; to be based on
- Cicero, De Officiis I, 122:
  Quorum consilio atque auctoritate nitatur
  [so as to] be supported by their advise and their reputation
to press forward, advance
to mount, climb, ascend; fly
to strain in giving birth; bring forth
(figuratively) to strive, struggle, exert oneself, make an effort, labor, endeavor
Synonyms: lūctor, certō, cōnītor, cōnor, temptō, ēlabōrō, appetō, īnsequor, affectō, tendō, quaerō, studeō, contendō, pugnō, molior, perīclitor, ēnītor, adnītor, labōrō, spectō
- c. 42 BCE, Sallust, Bellum Catilinae :
  Omnīs hominēs quī sēsē student praestāre cēterīs animālibus summā ope nītī decet nē vītam silentiō trānseant veluti pecora
  It is suitable for all who wish to be better than animals to struggle with their best effort in order not to go through life in silence like cattle.
(figuratively) to try to prove, contend in argument, argue
(figuratively) to rest, rely, depend upon
- c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 1.13:
  Se ita a patribus maioribusque suis didicisse, ut magis virtute quam dolo contenderent aut insidiis niterentur
  The Helvetii had learned from their fathers and ancestors to fight their battles with great virtue, not deception or by relying on trickery

Conjugation of nītor (third conjugation, deponent)
indicative		singular			plural
indicative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	nītor	nīteris, nītere	nītitur	nītimur	nītiminī	nītuntur
	imperfect	nītēbar	nītēbāris, nītēbāre	nītēbātur	nītēbāmur	nītēbāminī	nītēbantur
	future	nītar	nītēris, nītēre	nītētur	nītēmur	nītēminī	nītentur
	perfect	nīsus or nīxus + present active indicative of sum
	pluperfect	nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active indicative of sum
	future perfect	nīsus or nīxus + future active indicative of sum
subjunctive		singular			plural
subjunctive		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	nītar	nītāris, nītāre	nītātur	nītāmur	nītāminī	nītantur
	imperfect	nīterer	nīterēris, nīterēre	nīterētur	nīterēmur	nīterēminī	nīterentur
	perfect	nīsus or nīxus + present active subjunctive of sum
	pluperfect	nīsus or nīxus + imperfect active subjunctive of sum
imperative		singular			plural
imperative		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	nītere	—	—	nītiminī	—
active	future	—	nītitor	nītitor	—	—	nītuntor
non-finite forms		active			passive
non-finite forms		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		nītī	nīsum esse, nīxum esse	nīsūrum esse, nīxūrum esse	—	—	—
participles		nītēns	nīsus, nīxus	nīsūrus, nīxūrus	—	—	nītendus, nītundus
verbal nouns		gerund				supine
		genitive	dative	accusative	ablative	accusative	ablative
		nītendī	nītendō	nītendum	nītendō	nīsum, nīxum	nīsū, nīxū

From niteō (“I shine”) +‎ -or.

nitor m (genitive nitōris); third declension

“nitor”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“nitor”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
nitor in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎^[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
- it is a matter of conjecture, supposition: aliquid coniectura nititur, continetur (Div. 1. 14. 24)
- to cherish a hope: spe duci, niti, teneri