Talent (tăl&eitalic_;nt), n. [F., fr. L. talentum a talent (in sense 1), Gr. talanton a balance, anything weighed, a definite weight, a talent; akin to tlh^nai to bear, endure, tolna^n, L. tolerare, tollere, to lift up, sustain, endure. See Thole, v. t., Tolerate.] 1. Among the ancient Greeks, a weight and a denomination of money equal to 60 minæ or 6,000 drachmæ. 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.
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Rowing vessel whose burden does not exceed five hundred talents. Jowett (Thucid.).
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2. 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&unr_; 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.
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3. Inclination; will; disposition; desire. [Obs.]
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They rather counseled you to your talent than to your profit. Chaucer.
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4. 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 (Matt. xxv. 14-30).
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He is chiefly to be considered in his three different talents, as a critic, a satirist, and a writer of odes. Dryden.
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His talents, his accomplishments, his graceful manners, made him generally popular. Macaulay.
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Syn. -- Ability; faculty; gift; endowment. See Genius.
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