Where does “Candidatus” come from?

Candidatus (Translingual) comes from Latin candidātus, from Latin candidus, from Latin candeō, from Proto-Italic kandēō, from Proto-Indo-European kand- — to shine, glow.

Candidatus (Translingual): A taxonomic name component, usually forming an extended genus or species name, used as an interim status for a bacterium not yet cultured in a laboratory

Definitions

  1. A taxonomic name component, usually forming an extended genus or species name, used as an interim status for a bacterium not yet cultured in a laboratory

Ancestry of “Candidatus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincandidātusdressed in white
2Latincandidusshining white; clear, bright; fair, beautiful
3Latincandeōto be brilliant, glittering or illuminated; to shine, glitter, glisten; gleam white
4Proto-Italickandēō
5Proto-Indo-Europeankand-to shine, glow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kand-Every word from Proto-Italic kandēōEvery word from Latin candeō