genius

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