Talented

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈtæləntɪd/

Definitions

1. Possessing natural aptitude, skill, or ability in a particular area that exceeds typical proficiency
2. Exhibiting an exceptional level of skill or ability in a specific field or activity that is recognized as superior to the norm
3. Having an innate ability or flair for something that stands out from others

Etymology: The word "talent" began as a unit of weight and money in the ancient world, long before it described a gift. The Greek "talanton" was a large measure of weight, and in Greek and Roman commerce it was also a sum of money, so a talent of silver could be worth a great deal. Jesus's parable of the talents, in which servants are entrusted with sums of money and rewarded for investing them, helped shift the word's sense toward a person's abilities, and English speakers came to use it for natural aptitude that could be "invested" or wasted. English took "talent" from Middle English, where it already carried this moral sense of a God-given capacity. The "-ed" ending is an ordinary suffix that turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having" the thing named, the same way "gifted" or "skilled" describe someone who possesses a quality. "Talented" therefore literally means "possessing talent," and it followed the noun into everyday English without any dramatic change in its core meaning.

Synonyms: skilled, gifted, able, proficient, competent

Antonyms: untalented, incompetent, unskilled