conatus

co·na·tus

[koh-ney-tuhs]
noun, plural co·na·tus.
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.

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To conatus
Collins
World English Dictionary
conatus (kəʊˈneɪtəs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -tus
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
 
[C17: from Latin: effort, from cōnārī to try]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Conatus is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT