- talent
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/tal"euhnt/, n.1. a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing.2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men of talent.3. a talented person: The cast includes many of the theater's major talents.4. a group of persons with special ability: an exhibition of watercolors by the local talent.5. Motion Pictures and Television. professional actors collectively, esp. star performers.6. a power of mind or body considered as given to a person for use and improvement: so called from the parable in Matt. 25:14-30.7. 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.8. any of various ancient Hebrew or Attic monetary units equal in value to that of a talent weight of gold, silver, or other metal.9. Obs. inclination or disposition.[bef. 900; ME, OE talente < L talenta, pl. of talentum < Gk tálanton balance, weight, monetary unit]
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▪ unit of weightunit of weight used by many ancient civilizations, such as the Hebrews, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The weight of a talent and its relationship to its major subdivision, the mina, varied considerably over time and location in the ancient world. The most common ratio of the talent to the mina was probably 1:60.The Hebrew talent, or kikkār, probably of Babylonian origin, was the basic unit of weight among the ancient Hebrews. In the sacred system of weights, the Talmudic talent was equal to 60 Talmudic minas.The talent was also an important unit of weight among the Greeks, who undoubtedly borrowed it from eastern neighbours. The Attic talent, which equaled 60 Attic minas, is estimated to have weighed about 56.9 pounds (25.8 kg). It was certainly smaller than the Hebrew talent.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
