- Main Entry:
- 1gift
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈgift\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old Norse, something given, talent; akin to Old English giefan to give
- Date:
- 12th century
1
: a notable capacity, talent, or endowment
2
: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation
3
: the act, right, or power of giving
synonyms gift,
faculty,
aptitude,
bent,
talent,
genius,
knack mean a special ability for doing something.
gift often implies special favor by God or nature
<the gift of singing beautifully>.
faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function
<a faculty for remembering names>.
aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it
<a mechanical aptitude>.
bent is nearly equal to
aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability
<a family with an artistic bent>.
talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed
<has enough talent to succeed>.
genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability
<has no great genius for poetry>.
knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance
<the knack of getting along>.
