Thanks to having been given (albeit temporarily) the ability (6)
I believe the answer is:
talent
'the ability' is the definition.
(a talent is an ability)
'thanks to having been' is the wordplay.
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'to having' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'been' becomes 'lent' (lending is a kind of being).
'ta'+'lent'='TALENT'
'given albeit temporarily' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for talent that I've seen before include "Natural ability for some activity" , "able people" , "Old coin for natural ability" , "Natural ability or gift" , "Type of scout - innate ability - old Greek money" .)