conation

conation
The conscious tendency to act, usually an aspect of mental process; historically aligned with cognition and affection, but more recently used in the wider sense of impulse, desire, purposeful striving. [L. conatio, an undertaking, effort]

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co·na·tion kō-'nā-shən n an inclination (as an instinct, a drive, a wish, or a craving) to act purposefully: IMPULSE (2)
co·na·tive 'kō-nət-iv, -.nāt-; 'kän-ət- adj

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n.
the group of mental activities (including drives, will, and instinct) that leads to purposeful action. Compare cognition.

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co·na·tion (ko-naґshən) in psychology, the power that impels to effort of any kind; the conscious tendency to act.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Conation — is a term that stems from the Latin conatus, meaning any natural tendency, impulse, striving, or directed effort.[1] It is one of three parts of the mind, along with the affective and cognitive. In short, the cognitive part of the brain measures… …   Wikipedia

  • Conation — Co*na tion, n. [L. conatio.] (Philos.) The power or act which directs or impels to effort of any kind, whether muscular or psychical. [1913 Webster] Of conation, in other words, of desire and will. J. S. Mill. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • conation — [ kɔnasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1922; lat. conatio « tentative, effort » ♦ Philos., psychol. Impulsion déterminant un acte, un effort quelconque. conation [kɔnɑsjɔ̃] n. f. ÉTYM. XXe; lat. conatio « tentative, effort ». ❖ ♦ Didact. (philos., psychol.).… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • conation — index conatus Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • conation — in philosophical use from 1836, from L. conationem (nom. conatio) an endeavoring, effort, noun of action from conat , pp. stem of conari to endeavor, to try, from PIE *kona , from root *ken to set oneself in motion …   Etymology dictionary

  • conation — *will, volition Analogous words: *effort, exertion: *action, act: *choice, selection, option …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • conation — [kō nā′shən] n. [L conatio, an attempt < pp. of conari, to undertake, attempt < IE base * ken , to strive] Psychol. any inclination, drive, or desire to do something conational [kōnā′shə nəl] adj …   English World dictionary

  • conation — noun Etymology: Latin conation , conatio act of attempting, from conari to attempt more at deacon Date: circa 1837 an inclination (as an instinct, a drive, a wish, or a craving) to act purposefully ; impulse 3 • conative adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • conation — /koh nay sheuhn/, n. Psychol. the part of mental life having to do with striving, including desire and volition. [1605 15; < L conation (s. of conatio) an effort, equiv. to conat(us) (ptp. of conari to try) + ion ION] * * * …   Universalium

  • conation — noun The power or act which directs or impels to effort of any kind, whether muscular or psychical. Any pleasing sense experience, when it has once taken place, will, on subsequent occasions, give rise to a conation, when its conditions are only… …   Wiktionary

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