Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “candidate” come from?

candidate (Latin) comes from Latin candidatus, from Latin candidare, from Latin candidus, from Latin candeō, from Proto-Italic kandēō, from Proto-Indo-European kand- — to shine, glow.

candidate (Latin): vocative singular of candidātus

Definitions

  1. vocative singular of candidātus

Ancestry of “candidate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatincandidatusDressed in white; a candidate for the...
2Latincandidare—
3Latincandidusshining white; clear, bright; fair, beautiful
4Latincandeō—
5Proto-Italickandēō—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankand-to shine, glow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kand- →