Căn'di-date, n.
n. [Lat. candidatus, clothed in white, a candidate for office, from candidus, glittering, white, because those who sought offices in Rome were obliged to be clothed in a white toga; Fr. candidat.]
Sense 1. One who seeks or aspires to some office or privilege, or who offers himself for the same;—usually followed by for; as, a candidate for the office of sheriff; a candidate for baptism.
Sense 2. One who is selected, or thought of, for an office, or for preferment, by those who have power to elect or appoint.
Sense 3. One who, by his services or actions, will or may justly obtain preferment or reward, or whose conduct tends to secure it; as, a candidate for praise.