talent

The story

1. Old French · derived fromtalent“talent, will, inclination, desire”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromτάλαντον“balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”
3. Latin · derived fromtalentum“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”
4. Old English · inherited fromtalente
5. Middle English · inherited fromtalent
6. English todaytalent

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.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 19th c. People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person.
• from 20th c. One, especially a woman, from a particular place or area, judged by their attractiveness.
• until 16th c. A desire or inclination for something.