Lewis & Short

nĭtesco, tŭi, 3, v. inch. n. [niteo], to begin to shine or glitter, to shine, glitter (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).

  1. I. Lit.: caelum nitescere, arbores frondescere, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 28, 69 (Trag. v. 192 Vahl.): exiguo qui stellarum candore nitescit, Cic. Arat. 174: juventus Nudatos umeros oleo perfusa nitescit, Verg. A. 5, 134: nitescente novā lunā, Plin. 8, 1, 1, § 2; 37, 12, 74, § 195: ex umero Pelopis non nituisset ebur, Tib. 1, 4, 58 (64).
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. Of animals, to grow sleek, well-conditioned, fat: armenta nitescunt, Plin. Ep. 2, 17, 3.
      2. 2. Of persons, to become blooming; in perf., to be blooming: o pueri, nituistis, Hor. S. 2, 2, 128.
      3. 3. Of plants, to grow luxuriously, to thrive, Plin. 12, 25, 54, § 112.
  2. II. Trop., to be formed or cultivated: ut ingenio, doctrinā, praeceptione natura nitescat, Auct. Her. 3, 16, 29.
    To become illustrious or celebrated: quid non cultu nitescit? Quint. 9, 4, 5 (Tac. A. 12, 58; Halm and Ritter, enitesceret).