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)
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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.