conatus

American  

[koh-ney-tuhs] / koʊˈneɪ təs /

noun

plural

conatus

1. an effort or striving.

2. a force or tendency simulating a human effort.

3. (in the philosophy of Spinoza) the force in every animate creature toward the preservation of its existence.

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conatus British  

/ kəʊˈneɪtəs /

noun

1. an effort or striving of natural impulse

2. (esp in the philosophy of Spinoza) the tendency of all things to persist in their own being

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Etymology

Origin of conatus

1655–65; < Latin: exertion, equivalent to cōnā ( rī ) to attempt + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

Ille stolide perrexerunt ad dicunt quod "illi conatus defecerint."

From Slate • Feb. 11, 2013

It also follows that there is a conatus more interior, that is, the conatus to produce uses for the animal kingdom through vegetable growths, since by these animals of every kind are nourished.

From Angelic Wisdom Concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom by Ager, John

He adds: "�s magnum tempus, quo id dispungere conatus est, parvum."

From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

Ter conatus ibi collo dare bracchia circum, Ter frustra comprensa manus effugit imago.

From The Bridling of Pegasus Prose Papers on Poetry by Austin, Alfred

This conatus is afterwards continuous from the lands through the root even to outmosts, and from outmosts to firsts, wherein use itself is in its origin.

From Angelic Wisdom Concerning the Divine Love and the Divine Wisdom by Ager, John