Lewis & Short

cō-nītor (less correctly con-nītor; cf. Ritschl, Opusc. II. 448 sq.), nisus or nix us (conisus, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 29; Liv. 1, 33, 5; 3, 63, 4 et saep.; Val. Max. 2, 7, 2; Ser. Ep. 94, 31; Val. Fl. 3, 193; Sil. 2, 629; Tac. A. 11, 31; 15, 42 al.: conixus, Cic. Tusc. 2, 21, 47 B. and K.; id. N. D. 2, 43, 110; Lucr. 2, 160; Verg. E. 1, 15; id. A. 5, 264 et saep.; Liv. 3, 70, 5 al.; Plin. 8, 8, 8, § 26; Sil. 9, 379; Tac. H. 4, 53; Gell. 15, 16, 4), 3, v. dep. (inf. conitier, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44; cf. Trag. Rel. p. 284 Rib.), to put forth all one’s strength, strive, struggle, endeavor.

  1. I. Lit., of physical exertion.
    1. A. In gen.
        1. a. Absol. or with abl. of means: pol si quidem Conisus esses, per corium, per viscera Perque os elephanti transmineret bracchium, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 29: dein ejus germanum cornibus conitier, Att. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 22, 44 (Trag. Praet. v. 23 Rib.): corniger est valido conixus corpore taurus, Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 110; cf.: atque genu flexo Taurus conititur ingens, id. Arat. 290 (536): illam famuli ferebant, conixi umeris, Verg. A. 5, 264: dextrā, id. ib. 5, 642: fert ingens toto conixus corpore saxum, id. ib. 10, 127: adversis Conixi incurrunt hastis, id. ib. 11, 613: undique omnes conisi hostem avertunt, Liv. 3, 63, 4; 35, 5, 12: omnibus copiis conisus Ancus, id. 1, 33, 5: tres juvenes conixi arborem unam evellebant, id. 33, 5, 7; 41, 4, 2: Antiochus omnibus regni viribus conixus, id. 33, 19, 9: ni equestre proelium conixi omni vi perficerent, id. 3, 70, 5: totis conisus viribus, Val. Fl. 3, 193: si coniterentur (mulae), Dig. 9, 2, 52, § 2.
        2. b. With inf.: coniterentur modo uno animo omnes invadere hostem, Liv. 9, 31, 12 Weissenb. ad loc.: inligare conisa est, Tac. A. 15, 51; Dig. 23, 3, 9, § 3.
        3. c. With ut: (parvi) conituntur sese ut erigant, Cic. Fin. 5, 15, 42.
        4. d. With ad and acc.: ut rursus ad surgendum coniti non possent, Curt. 7, 3, 13: ceteris ad convincendum eum conisis, Tac. A. 15, 66: omnibus imperii nervis ad revocandam pristinae disciplinam militiae conisus est, Val. Max. 2, 7, 2.
    2. B. Esp.,
      1. 1. To press upon, press toward, struggle toward, strive to reach; with in and acc. of place: equitatus summum in jugum virtute conititur, Caes. B. C. 1, 46: in unum locum, Liv. 31, 21, 10: praealtam in arborem, Tac. A. 11, 31.
        So poet., of a weapon: in hastam, Sil. 10, 252.
        Of things: in quem coepere locum conixa feruntur (primordia rerum), Lucr. 2, 160.
      2. 2. To struggle in giving birth, to labor (cf. enitor): spem gregis, ah! silice in nudā conixa reliquit, Verg. E. 1, 15.
  2. II. Trop., of mental effort, etc.: praesto est domina omnium et regina, ratio, quae conixa per se et progressa longius, fit perfecta virtus, putting forth her own energy, Cic. Tusc. 2, 21, 47: quantum coniti animo potes, id. Off. 3, 2, 6.