Matthew 25:14-30

talent |ˈtalənt|

noun

1 natural aptitude or skill

• people possessing such aptitude or skill

• informal people regarded as sexually attractive or as prospective sexual partners

2 a former weight and unit of currency, used esp. by the ancient Romans and Greeks.

ORIGIN Old English talente, talentan (as a unit of weight), from Latin talenta, plural of talentum 'weight, sum of money,' from Greek talanton. Sense 1 is a figurative use with biblical allusion to the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30).

engine |ˈenjən|

noun

1 a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion.

• a thing that is the agent or instrument of a particular process

2 a railroad locomotive.

• short for fire engine .

• historical a mechanical device or instrument, esp. one used in warfare

ORIGIN Middle English (formerly also as ingine): from Old French engin, from Latin ingenium 'talent, device,' from in- 'in' + gignere 'beget' ; compare with ingenious . The original sense was [ingenuity, cunning] (surviving in Scots as ingine), hence [the product of ingenuity, a plot or snare,] also [tool, weapon,] later specifically denoting a large mechanical weapon; whence a machine (mid 17th cent.), used commonly later in combinations such as steam engine, internal combustion engine.

generator |ˈjenəˌrātər|

noun

a thing that generates something, in particular

• a dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity.

• an apparatus for producing gas, steam, or another product.

• a facility that generates electrical power.

• [with adj. ] Computing a routine that constructs other routines or subroutines using given parameters, for specific applications : a report generator.

• Mathematics a point, line, or surface regarded as moving and so notionally forming a line, surface, or solid.

generate |ˈjenəˌrāt|

verb [ trans. ]

cause (something, esp. an emotion or situation) to arise or come about

• produce (energy, esp. electricity).

• produce (a set or sequence of items) by performing specified mathematical or logical operations on an initial set.

• Linguistics produce (a sentence or other unit, esp. a well-formed one) by the application of a finite set of rules to lexical or other linguistic input.

• Mathematics form (a line, surface, or solid) by notionally moving a point, line, or surface.

ORIGIN early 16th cent.(in the sense [beget, procreate] ): from Latin generat- 'created,' from the verb generare, from genus, gener- 'stock, race.'

race ¹ |rās|

noun

1 a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course

• ( the races) a series of such competitions for horses or dogs, held at a fixed time on a set course.

• [in sing. ] a situation in which individuals or groups compete to be first to achieve a particular objective : the race for nuclear power.

• archaic the course of the sun or moon through the heavens.

2 a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river

3 a groove, channel, or passage, in particular

• a water channel, esp. one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine. See also millrace .

• a smooth, ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.

verb

1 [ intrans. ] compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective

• compete regularly in races as a sport or leisure activity

• [ trans. ] prepare and enter (an animal or vehicle) in races as a sport or leisure activity

2 [ intrans. ] move or progress swiftly or at full speed

• (of an engine or other machinery) operate at excessive speed

• (of a person's heart or pulse) beat faster than usual because of fear or excitement.

• [ trans. ] cause to move, progress, or operate swiftly or at excessive speed

ORIGIN late Old English , from Old Norse rás 'current.' It was originally a northern English word with the sense [rapid forward movement,] which gave rise to the senses [contest of speed] (early 16th cent.) and [channel, path] (i.e., the space traversed). The verb dates from the late 15th cent.

current |ˈkərənt; ˈkə-rənt|

adjective

belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now

• in common or general use

noun

a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, esp. through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement

• a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles.

• a quantity representing the rate of flow of electric charge, usually measured in amperes.

• the general tendency or course of events or opinion

ORIGIN Middle English (in the adjective sense [running, flowing] ): from Old French corant 'running,' from courre 'run,' from Latin currere 'run.'

currency |ˈkərənsē; ˈkə-rənsē|

noun ( pl. -cies)

1 a system of money in general use in a particular country

2 the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in use

• the time during which something is in use or operation