Etymology : Middle English, from Old English talente, from Latin talenta, plural of talentum unit of weight or money, from Greek talanton pan of a scale, weight; akin to Greek tlEnai to bear; in senses 2-5, from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30; more at
Pronunciation : ta-l&nt
Function : noun
Date : before 12th century
1. innate ability or skill; capacity for achievement; talented person; any of a number of ancient coins (used in Greece, Rome and the Middle East). talent\tal"ent\ , n. [f., fr. l. talentum a talent (in sense 1), gr. a balance, anything weighed, a definite weight, a talent; akin to to bear, endure, , l. tolerare, tollere, to lift up, sustain, endure. see:
thole, v. t., tolerate.].
2. among the ancient greeks, a weight and a denomination of money equal to 60 min? or 6,000 drachm?. the attic talent, as a weight, was about 57 lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver money, its value was £243 15s. sterling, or about $1,180. rowing vessel whose burden does not exceed five hundred talents. (thucid.).
3. among the hebrews, a weight and denomination of money. for silver it was equivalent to 3,000 shekels, and in weight was equal to about 93 lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver, it has been variously estimated at from £340 to £396 sterling, or about $1,645 to $1,916. for gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels.
4. inclination; will; disposition; desire. [obs.] they rather counseled you to your talent than to your profit.
5. intellectual ability, natural or acquired; mental endowment or capacity; skill in accomplishing; a special gift, particularly in business, art, or the like; faculty; a use of the word probably originating in the scripture parable of the talents ( xxv. 14-30). he is chiefly to be considered in his three different talents, as a critic, a satirist, and a writer of odes. his talents, his accomplishments, his graceful manners, made him generally popular.
6. Among the ancient Greeks, a weight and a denomination of money equal to 60 minæ or 6,000 drachmæ.
7. The Attic talent, as a weight, was about 57 lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver money, its value was £243 15s. sterling, or about $1,180.
8. Among the Hebrews, a weight and denomination of money.
9. For silver it was equivalent to 3,000 shekels, and in weight was equal to about 93&?; lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver, it has been variously estimated at from £340 to £396 sterling, or about $1,645 to $1,916.
10. For gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels.
11. Inclination; will; disposition; desire.
12. Intellectual ability, natural or acquired; mental endowment or capacity; skill in accomplishing; a special gift, particularly in business, art, or the like; faculty; a use of the word probably originating in the Scripture parable of the talents . a person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field or activity.
13. Talent is the natural ability to do something well. The player was given hardly any opportunities to show off his talents He's got lots of talent. see also:
talent show.