talent
of ancient units:
1. any of various ancient units of weight, as a unit of Palestine and Syria equal to 3000 shekels, or a unit of Greece equal to 6000 drachmas.
2. any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal.
3. any of various or several ancient units of weight and money.
4. a unit of value equal to the value of a talent of gold or silver.
in the Bible:
a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14–30.
in movies and television:
professional actors collectively, especially star performers.
archaic:
a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal.
obsolete:
inclination or disposition.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English talente < Latin talenta, plural of talentum < Greek tálanton balance, weight, monetary unit. [British:] Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30). —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use of talent: before the 12th century. History and Etymology for talent: 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 tlēnai to bear; in senses 3–5, from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 — more at tolerate. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 20 July 2020 {7:27 PM}
1. any of various ancient units of weight, as a unit of Palestine and Syria equal to 3000 shekels, or a unit of Greece equal to 6000 drachmas.
2. any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal.
3. any of various or several ancient units of weight and money.
4. a unit of value equal to the value of a talent of gold or silver.
in the Bible:
a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14–30.
in movies and television:
professional actors collectively, especially star performers.
archaic:
a characteristic feature, aptitude, or disposition of a person or animal.
obsolete:
inclination or disposition.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English talente < Latin talenta, plural of talentum < Greek tálanton balance, weight, monetary unit. [British:] Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30). —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use of talent: before the 12th century. History and Etymology for talent: 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 tlēnai to bear; in senses 3–5, from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 — more at tolerate. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 20 July 2020 {7:27 PM}