A natural tendency inherent in a body to develop itself; an attempt; an effort.

Conatus, (Latin: effort; endeavor; impulse, inclination, tendency; undertaking), is a term used historically in philosophy to refer to both general and specific ideas in early psychology and metaphysics (Traupman 52). The word is usually used in referring to a body's perceived inclination to continue to exist and enhance itself, but over the millenia, many different, very nuanced definitions and treatments have sprung up from philosophers such as Cicero, René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes and Baruch Spinoza (LeBuffe).