Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

nicto, āvi, ātum, 1, and ĕre, 3, v. n., and nictor, ātus, v. dep. n. [1. nico], to move the eyelids.

  1. I. Lit., to move the eyelids up and down, to wink, blink: plerisque naturale ut nictari (al. nictare) non cessent, Plin. 11, 37, 54, § 144; 11, 37, 57, § 156.
    Form nicto, ĕre: (canis) voce suā nictit ululatque ibi acute, Enn. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 177 Müll. (Ann. v. 346 Vahl.).
      1. 2. To make a sign with the eyes, to wink: neque illa ulli homini nutet, nictet, annuat, Plaut. As. 4, 1, 39; id. Men. 4, 2, 49; id. Merc. 2, 3, 72.
    1. B. Transf., of fire: nictantia fulgura flammae, flashing, Lucr. 6, 182.
  2. II. Trop., to exert one’s self, to strive: nictare et oculorum et aliorum membrorum nisu saepe aliquid conari, dictum est ab antiquis, ut Lucretius in libro quarto (6, 836): Hic ubi nictari nequeunt (Lachm. nixari): Caecilius in Hymnide: Garrulis medentes jactent, sine nictentur perticis, Paul. ex Fest. p. 177 Müll.