a. (and sb.). [ad. L. type *cōnātīv-us, f. ppl. stem of cōnārī to endeavor.]
A. adj. a. Philos. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, conation; exertive.
1836–7. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph. (1859), II. xl. 186. This division of the phænomena of mind into the three great classes of the Cognitive Faculties—the Feelings, or capacities of Pleasure and Pain—and the Exertive or Conative Powers. Ibid. (1877), I. vii. 122. The phænomena of our Conative powers,—in other words, the phænomena of Will and Desire.
b. Gram. Expressive of endeavor.
1875. Whitney, Life Lang., xii. 250. Representing the radical idea in a causative, a reflexive, an intensive, a conative form, and so on.
† B. sb. Endeavor, striving. Obs. rare.
a. 1688. Cudworth, Treat. Free Will (1838), 31. Notwithstanding which the hegemonic of the soul may, by conatives and endeavours, acquire more and more power over them.
