Lewis & Short

nūto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. n. [nuo (of re-nuo, ab-nuo); Gr. νεύω; cf. numen, nutus], to nod with the head.

  1. I. Lit.: neque illa ulli homini nutet, nictet, annuat, Plaut. As. 4, 1, 39; id. Merc. 2, 3, 72: capite nutat, id. Mil. 2, 2, 52: crebro capitis motu nutans. Suet. Calig. 38: nutans. Distorquens oculos, Hor. S. 1, 9, 64.
    1. B. Esp., to command by a nod or sign: nutat ne loquar, Plaut. Men. 4, 2, 48.
  2. II. In gen., to sway to and fro, to totter, shake, stagger.
    1. A. Lit.: nutant circumspectantibus galeae, et incerti trepidant, Liv. 4, 37: ornus, Verg. A. 2, 629; 9, 682: percutiens nutanti pectora mento, Ov. M. 11, 620: nutans machinamentum, Tac. H. 4, 30: nutantem vulnere civem, Juv. 15, 156: rami pondere, Ov. A. A. 2, 263: cristae, Sil. 1, 501: turres, Luc. 6, 136: plaustra, Juv. 3, 256.
    2. B. Trop.
      1. 1. To waver in one’s opinion or judgment; to doubt, hesitate: etiam Democritus nutare videtur in naturā Deorum, Cic. N. D. 1, 43, 120: sic animus vario labefactus vulnere nutat, Ov. M. 10, 375; cf. Stat. Th. 8, 614; 4, 197.
      2. 2. To falter in one’s fidelity, to be faithless: ac primo Festūs nutabat, palam Vitellium, occultis nuntiis Vespasianum fovens, Tac. H. 2, 98; Suet. Caes. 4.
      3. 3. To be ready to fall or give way; to totter, to waver, fail, be weak, falter: fortuna nutabit, Liv. 21, 44: tanto discrimine urbs nutabat, ut, etc., Tac. H. 4, 52: nutantem aciem victor equitatus incursat, id. ib. 3, 18; 4, 49: rempublicam, Suet. Vesp. 8; cf.: moenia nutantia Romae, Sil. 10, 590: nutantem hostem praevenire, Tac. H. 3, 40; cf. Flor. 3, 10, 4: mundi nutante ruinā, Luc. 4, 493.