What is a talent?

Question

Someone mentioned a talent in a television program as an ancient measurement? wanted to know how much it is

answers appreciated it

Answer 1

A natural given gift by God.

Answer 2

\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}.

Answer 3

Biblically, it was a small amount of currency.

Good luck