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Added 9 October 2026

talent

/ˈtæl.ənt/ noun

In Latin: indoles Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about talent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Natural abilities or qualities.
A person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field or activity.

Origin

From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum (“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”), from Ancient Greek τάλαντον (tálanton, “balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”). Compare Old High German talenta (“talent”). Later figurative senses are from Old French talent (“talent, will, inclination, desire”), derived from the biblical Parable of the Talents.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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