In AV 'ability' is either material (Le 27:8; Ezr 2:69; Ac 11:29) or personal (Da 1:4; Mt 25:15) capacity. The mod. meaning ('mental power') is not found in AV.
and to one, indeed, he gave five talents; and to another, two; and to another, one??o each according to his own ability; and he went abroad.