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.]

1. Among the ancient Greeks, a weight and a denomination of money equal to 60 min[ae] or 6,000 drachm[ae]. The Attic talent, as a weight, was about 57 lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver money, its value was [pounds]243 15s. sterling, or about $1,180.

Rowing vessel whose burden does not exceed five hundred talents. --Jowett (Thucid.).

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? lbs. avoirdupois; as a denomination of silver, it has been variously estimated at from [pounds]340 to [pounds]396 sterling, or about $1,645 to $1,916. For gold it was equal to 10,000 gold shekels.

3. Inclination; will; disposition; desire. [Obs.]

They rather counseled you to your talent than to your profit. --Chaucer.

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).

He is chiefly to be considered in his three different talents, as a critic, a satirist, and a writer of odes. --Dryden.

His talents, his accomplishments, his graceful manners, made him generally popular. --Macaulay.

Syn: Ability; faculty; gift; endowment. See Genius.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)