conatus

[ 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.

conatus

/ kəʊˈneɪtəs /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of conatus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of conatus¹

C17: from Latin: effort, from cōnārī to try

Example Sentences

When Dion Mattison, 37, of Crown Heights, is not teaching Aristotelian philosophy at the New School in Manhattan, he operates the Conatus Surf Club in Rockaway, extolling proper technique to clients.

From New York Times

Reduce a deduction for state income taxes, make a home more expensive, and Mento worries it will be even more "miserable" to recruit employees to work on Conatus' experimental liver disease drug.

From Los Angeles Times

Steven Mento, who runs Conatus Pharmaceuticals, a biotech firm out of San Diego, said he isn't about to flee because of lost tax deductions.

From Los Angeles Times

The drug that Novartis purchased from Conatus this year dampens inflammation by inhibiting an enzyme called a caspase.

From Nature

Conatus is targeting end-stage disease with the goal of preventing transplants.

From Reuters