Lewis & Short

necto, xŭi, sometimes xi (cf. Neue, Formenl. 2, 494 sq.), xum (inf. pass. nectier, Cic. Rep. 2, 34, 59), 3, v. a. [with neo, kindr. to Sanscr. nah, ligare, nectere, and Gr. νέω, νήθω], to bind, tie, fasten; to join, bind, or fasten together, connect.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: nectere ligare significat, Paul. ex Fest. p. 165 Müll.: necte tribus nodis ternos, Amarylli, colores, Verg. E. 8, 77: catenas, Hor. C. 1, 29, 5: necte meo La miae coronam, weave, make, id. ib. 1, 26, 8, so, coronas, id. ib. 4, 11, 3; id. Ep. 2, 2, 96; id. Epod. 17, 22: laqueum alicui, id. Ep. 1, 19, 31: pedibus talaria, Verg. A. 4, 239: flavàque caput nectentur olivā, id. ib. 5, 309: nodum informis leti trabe nectit ab alta, id. ib. 12, 603: bracchia, to fold in each other, entwine, clasp, Ov. F. 6, 329; cf.: collo bracchia meo, id. H. 5, 48: comam myrto, id. Am. 1, 2, 23: mille venit variis florum dea nexa coronis, id. F. 4, 495: venit odoratos Elegeïa nexa capillos, id. Am. 3, 1, 7; id. P. 3, 1, 124: retia, Prop. 3, 8, 27 (4, 7, 37): alicui compedes, Plin. Ep. 9, 28, 4; Africus in glaciem frigore nectit aquas, Prop. 4 (5), 3, 48.
    2. B. In partic., to bind, fetter, confine, esp. for debt: liber, qui suas operas in servitute pro pecuniā quādam debebat, dum solveret, nexus vocatur ut ab aere obaeratus, enslaved for debt, Varr. L L. 7, § 105 Müll.: cum sint propter unius libidinem omnia nexa civium liberata, nectierque postea desitum, Cic. Rep. 2, 34, 59; cf.: ita nexi soluti cautumque in posterum, ne necterentur, Liv. 8, 28 fin.: eo anno plebi Romanae velut aliud initium libertatis factum est, quod necti desierant: mutatum autem jus ob unius feneratoris simul libidinem, simul crudelitatem insignem, id. 8, 28, 1; v. also 2. nexus, II.; Liv. 2, 27; 23: nec carcerem nexis, sed caedibus civitatem replet, Just. 21, 2; cf. id. 21, 1.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. To affix, attach: ut ex alio alia nectantur, Cic. Leg. 1, 19, 52: ex hoc genere causarum ex aeternitate pendentium fatum a Stoicis nectitur, id. Top. 15, 59.
    2. B. To bind by an obligation, to oblige, make liable, bind, etc.: sacramento nexi, Just. 20, 4: res pignori nexa, i. e. pledged, pawned, Dig. 49, 14, 22, § 1.
    3. C. To join or fasten together, to connect, Cic. Or. 41, 140: rerum causae aliae ex aliis aptae et necessitate nexae, id. Tusc. 5, 25, 70; cf.: omnes virtutes inter se nexae et jugatae sunt, id. ib. 3, 8, 17: nectere dolum, to contrive, Liv. 27, 28: causas inanes, to frame, invent, bring forward, Verg. A. 9, 219: canoris Eloquium vocale modis, to set to harmonious measures, Juv. 7, 18: numeris verba, Ov. P. 4, 2, 30: cum aliquo jurgia, i. e. to quarrel, id. Am. 2, 2, 35: moras, to make, contrive, Tac. A. 12, 14: insidias, Val. Max. 3, 8, 5: talia nectebant, they thus conversed, Stat. Th. 8, 637.