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Is "candid" the root of "candidate" ?

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Latest post Thu, Mar 23 2006 11:38 AM by Kajjo. 4 replies.
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warrener  +  208733 Thu, 23 Mar 06 07:31 AM

I am just curious, is there any relationship between "candid" and "candidate" ?

Was "candidate" originally from the root "candid"? Anybody knows?   
warrener
Joined on Sun, Feb 27 2005
Full Member 145
Anonymous, 3 yr 244 days ago
Yes, there is a relationship between 'candid' and 'candidate'.
Both 'candid' and 'candidate' derive from the Latin word 'candidus', which means white, pure or sincere.
To be more exact, 'candidate' is from 'candidatus', which comes from 'candidus'. The relationship between candidatus and candidus is that office seekers in ancient Rome often wore white gowns.
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Kajjo  +  208745 Thu, 23 Mar 06 08:04 AM
Both words come from latin "candidus" = white, shiny.
"candidate" from the white toga worn by political candidates in ancient Rome

Kajjo
Kajjo
Joined on Sun, Dec 18 2005
Full Member 150
warrener, 3 yr 244 days ago
thanks, but how about candid?
Kajjo  +  208804 Thu, 23 Mar 06 11:38 AM
OK, I checked my latin dictionary and it gives:
candidus = 1. (look) white, shining, speckless; 2. (style) straight, clear, non-affected, non-stilted, candid (SIC!)

As it appears, the two meanings already exist in Latin.

Kajjo
Kajjo
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