Word Study
conation
CIDE DICTIONARY
conation, n. [L. conatio.].
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." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
conation, n. Philos. & Psychol.
1 the desire to perform an action.
2 voluntary action; volition.
1 the desire to perform an action.
2 voluntary action; volition.
Derivative
conative adj.
Etymology
L conatio f. conari try
ROGET THESAURUS
conation
Will
N will, volition, conation, velleity, liberum arbitrium, will and pleasure, free will, freedom, discretion, option, voluntariness, spontaneity, spontaneousness, originality, pleasure, wish, mind, desire, frame of mind, intention, predetermination, selfcontrol, determination, force of will, voluntary, volitional, willful, free, optional, discretional, discretionary, volitient, volitive, minded, prepense, intended, autocratic, unbidden &c (bid), spontaneous, original, unconstrained, voluntarily, at will, at pleasure, a volonte, a discretion, al piacere, ad libitum, ad arbitrium, as one thinks proper, as it seems good to, a beneplacito, of one's won accord, of one's own free will, proprio motu, suo motu, ex meromotu, out of one's won head, by choice, purposely, deliberately, stet pro ratione voluntas, sic volo sic jubeo, a vostro beneplacito, beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere, Deus vult, was man nicht kann meiden muss man willig leiden.For further exploring for "conation" in Webster Dictionary Online