\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}.