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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Talent \Tal"ent\ (t[a^]l"ent), n. [F., fr. L. talentum a talent
(in sense 1), Gr. ta`lanton a balance, anything weighed, a
definite weight, a talent; akin to tlh^nai to bear, endure,
tolma^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 minae or 6,000 drachmae. 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 (using 1900 values).
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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 933/4 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 (ca. 1900). 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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