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candidate

 - 3 dictionary results

can⋅di⋅date

  [n. kan-di-deyt, -dit; v. kan-di-deyt] noun, verb, -dat⋅ed, -dat⋅ing.
Use candidate in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who seeks an office, honor, etc.: a candidate for governor.
2. a person who is selected by others as a contestant for an office, honor, etc.
3. a person who is deserving of or seems destined for a certain end or fate: Such a reckless spender is a candidate for the poorhouse.
4. a student studying for a degree: Candidates for the B.A. will have to meet certain minimum requirements.
–verb (used without object)
5. to become a candidate for service as a new minister of a church; preach before a congregation that is seeking a new minister.
Origin:
1605–15; < L candidātus clothed in white (adj.), candidate for office (n., in reference to the white togas worn by those seeking office). See candid, -ate 1

Related forms:
can⋅di⋅da⋅cy  [kan-di-duh-see] ; Chiefly British, can⋅di⋅da⋅ture  [kan-di-duh-cher] , can⋅di⋅date⋅ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To candidate
can·di·date   (kān'dĭ-dāt', -dĭt)   
n.  

  1. A person who seeks or is nominated for an office, prize, or honor.

  2. A student who has nearly completed the requirements for a degree.

  3. One that seems likely to gain a certain position or come to a certain fate: young actors who are candidates for stardom; a memorandum that is a good candidate for the trash can.


[Latin candidātus, clothed in white (from the white togas worn by Romans seeking office), candidate, from candidus, white; see candid.]
can'di·da·cy (-də-sē), can'di·da·ture' (-də-chŏŏr', -chər) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

candidate 
1613, from L. candidatus "white-robed," from candidus (see candid). Office-seekers in ancient Rome wore white togas. Candidacy is from 1864.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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