Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Talent, n. [ME and e.m.E. talent (Cursor M.), OF talent will, desire, OE talente, L. talenta pl. a weight or sum of money.]

1. Inclination, desire, wish. 1375 Barb. iii 694.
Quhen thai war boune to saile thai went, The wynd wes wele to thar talent ?1438 Alex. ii 2670.
Sa sall men lufe ȝow certanely, And ay to ȝour auancement Sall thay haue hart, will and talent c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 26.
Allsua set I myne intent My wyt my wyll and myne talent [W. assent] … Thare [sc. stories'] matere in tyll fowrme to drawe Off Latyne in tyll Ynglys sawe c1420 Wynt. ii 1300.
Scho walde na wys pas hym fra Quhyll that he gave hys assent In tyll assyth off hyr talent [W. torment] 1460 Hay Alex. 1682.
King Nicolas with all pith and talent Hit him ane straik in middis of the scheild 1513 Doug. x iv 12.
A thowsand stowt ȝong men of hys talent Vndir hym ledyng, for the batale bown

2. A denomination of weight of precious metal; a large, indeterminate quantity of such metal. 1460 Hay Alex. 18347.
Ane hundreth thowsand talentis ȝe sall give To my chaipleinis to help thame for to live 1513 Doug. v iii 18.
Seir talentis eik of gold and siluer brycht 1513 Doug. x ix 49.
A hows … Quharin bedelvyn lyis a gret talent Or charge of fyne siluer 1513 Doug. x ix 61.
Tha mony talentis of fyne siluyr and gold … Do kepe onto thi small childyr and ayris

b. An indeterminate amount of money. 1632 Aberd. Trades 222.
The most pairt of the freemen … having given in thair several contributions … to the Trinitie Hospital … it is statute and ordanit … that ilk new admittit frieman that be received hereafter in this incorporation sall give in their talent to the said use … according to thair descrition and habilitie

c. fig. Wealth, riches. 1562-3 Winȝet II 56/28.
Saif the talent of the Catholik fayth vnbrokin and incorrupt. … Thow hes resauit gold, rander agane gold

3. Mental or intellectual ability. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 180 (G).
He that refuses to randir cowmpt … quhair by the ignorant may be instructit … is accusabill off the misvsing off Godis talent grantit to hym 1693 Sage Fundam. Chart. Presb. Pref. Sig. H 4a.
Before he shall be forced to yield in his argument, … he shall not fail to furbish his talent and make it keen enough for combating the common sense of the whole nation

b. A particular ability or aptitude. a1687 Sel. Biog. II 304.
No man should misimprove any talent he hath 1723 Dunkeld Presb. II 105.
The presbytery having agreed to ordain Mr. M'Lagan minister at Litle Dunkeld, and also considering that there is need that he exercise his talent of the Irish language among that people