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 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.
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 £340 to £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.
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 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.
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 £340 to £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.
