Nisus

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nisus \Ni"sus\, n. [L., fr. niti, p. p. nisus, to strive.]
     1. A striving; an effort; a conatus.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A nisus or energizing towards a presented object.
                                                    --Hickok.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Physiol.)
        (a) The periodic procreative desire manifested in the
            spring by birds, etc.
        (b) The contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles
            to evacuate feces or urine.
            [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nisus
       n : an effortful attempt to attain a goal [syn: {striving}, {pains},
            {strain}]