Lewis & Short

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in-năto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to swim or float in or upon (poet. and in post-Aug. prose).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. Homines flumini innatant, Plin. 8, 25, 38, § 93: aquis pluma innatans, id. 18, 35, 86, § 360: lactuca innatat acri Post vinum stomacho ( = supernatat, non subsidet), Hor. S. 2, 4, 59; cf.: dulce (vinum) stomacho innatat, austerum facilius concoquitur, Plin. 23, 1, 22, § 38.
          1. (β) With acc.: undam innatat alnus, swims the stream, Verg. G. 2, 451.
    2. B. To swim or float into: cum pisciculi parvi in concham hiantem innataverunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 123.
      1. 2. To flow over, overflow: Nilus fecundus innatat terrae, Plin. 5, 9, 9, § 54; so, innatat campis (Tiberis), Plin. Ep. 8, 17, 2: innatat unda freto dulcis, the fresh water flows into the sea, Ov. P. 4, 10, 63.
      2. 3. To swim or float among, to be intermingled with: inter hos latent arteriae … his innatant venae, Plin. 11, 37, 89, § 219.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Innatans illa verborum facilitas, floating on the surface, superficial, Quint. 10, 7, 28; 7, 1, 44.
    2. B. Of the hair, to float or flow: tenui vagus innatat undā Crinis, Val. Fl. 3, 525.