/ kəˈneɪʃn; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( philosophy , psychology ) a mental process that makes you want to do sth or decide to do sth
► cona·tive / ˈkɒnətɪv; NAmE ˈkɑːn-/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (denoting an attempt or endeavour): from Latin conatio(n-) , from conari to try.