talent

• n. 才能；天才；天資

來自拉丁語 talentum,重量，一定數目的錢，來自希臘語 talanton,稱量，一定的重量，一定數 目的錢，來自 PIE*tele,舉起，稱重，詞源同 extol,tolerate.據考證，1 talent 為 6000 古希臘貨 幣 drachma,在當時為一大筆錢。現詞義來自聖經的一則寓言，講得是主人要出遠門，按能力 給了三個奴隸一個 5 talenta,一個 2 talenta,一個 1talent,很久以後主人回來了，前兩個奴隸用錢 投資錢生錢，最後一個奴隸把錢埋在地底下，主人生氣的說，即使你不會投資，你把錢存入 銀行至少也有利息啊，我要沒收你的錢，把錢交給有能力的人。後引申詞義天才，天資等。

talent

talent: [13] Greek tálanton meant ‘balance, weight’, and hence ‘unit of weight or money’. Latin borrowed it as talentum, using it metaphorically for ‘mental inclination’, and it was in this sense that English originally acquired it, via Old French talent. ‘Unit of money’ did not arrive (apart from one isolated Old English instance) until the late 14th century, and it was the use of the word in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), in which a master gave his servants talents (money), which two of them put out to interest, earning their master’s approval, while the other less enterprising servant simply buried his, that led in the early 15th century to the use of the term for ‘aptitude, ability’.

talent (n.)

late 13c., "inclination, disposition, will, desire," from Old French talent (12c.), from Medieval Latin talenta, plural of talentum "inclination, leaning, will, desire" (11c.), in classical Latin "balance, weight; sum of money," from Greek talanton "a balance, pair of scales," hence "weight, definite weight, anything weighed," and in later times sum of money," from PIE *tele- "to lift, support, weigh," "with derivatives referring to measured weights and thence money and payment" [Watkins]; see extol.

An ancient denomination of weight, originally Babylonian (though the name is Greek), and varying widely in value among different peoples and at different times. [Century Dictionary]

According to Liddell & Scott, as a monetary sum, considered to consist of 6,000 drachmae, or, in Attica, 57.75 lbs. of silver. Also borrowed in other Germanic languages and Celtic. Attested in Old English as talente). The Medieval Latin and common Romanic sense developed from figurative use of the word in the sense of "money." Meaning "special natural ability, aptitude, gift committed to one for use and improvement" developed by mid-15c., in part perhaps from figurative sense "wealth," but mostly from the parable of the talents in Matt. xxv:14-30. Meaning "persons of ability collectively" is from 1856.

1. Talent, hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.

事業要成功，才能、勤奮和頑強的意誌都至關重要。

來自柯林斯例句

2. I believe I have the talent to make it.

我相信自己有成功的天分。

來自柯林斯例句

3. With nothing but his own talent, he made himself rich and famous.

他一無所有，僅靠自身才能就變得富有而出名。

來自柯林斯例句

4. Kauffman was a woman of unique talent and determination.

考夫曼是一個有著超群才智和決斷力的女子。

來自柯林斯例句

5. The festival remains a valuable showcase for new talent.

音樂節一直是新秀展示才華的寶貴機會。

來自柯林斯例句