conation
[koh-ney-shuh n]
- the part of mental life having to do with striving, including desire and volition.
Show More
Origin of conation
1605–15; < Latin cōnātiōn- (stem of cōnātiō) an effort, equivalent to cōnāt(us) (past participle of cōnārī to try) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
picturestorysetuprecipeprojectplanschemedesireaccordselectionoptionwillingnesswishpreferencechoicewilldeterminationelectiondiscretionresolutionExamples from the Web for conation
Historical Examples
In other words, whatever the history of this conation may be, it is now a unity or whole.
An Interpretation of Rudolf Eucken's PhilosophyW. Tudor Jones
conation
- the element in psychological processes that tends towards activity or change and appears as desire, volition, and striving
Show More
Word Origin
C19: from Latin cōnātiō an attempting, from cōnārī to try
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for conation
n.
in philosophical use from 1836, from Latin conationem (nominative conatio) "an endeavoring, effort," noun of action from past participle stem of conari "to endeavor, to try," from PIE *kona-, from root *ken- "to set oneself in motion."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
conation
(kō-nā′shən)- The aspect of mental processes or behavior directed toward action or change and including impulse, desire, volition, and striving.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.