candide

Forms

candide (plural candides)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin candidus (“dazzling white, bright”),^[2][3][4] which also meant figuratively “kind, sincere” from Horace on.^[2] The Latin adjective is derived from candeō (“to shine, be white”).^[3][5] Compare Spanish cándido and Italian candido.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in the 15th century in Octavien de Saint-Gelais' translation of the Aeneid, meaning “dazzling, brilliant”.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Its meanings followed those of candeur.^[3] The sense “dazzling white” faded in the 17th century, though poets such as Hugo took it up again.^[3][6] Du Bellay used it in 1549 for “kind, benevolent”, and Cotgrave recorded “pure, frank, sincere” in 1611; that sense became archaic after the 18th century.^[2][3]

Since the 17th century candide has described a naive, pure person, often with a pejorative shade of “innocent through inexperience”, first found in Hauteroche in 1668.^[3][2] Voltaire gave the name Candide to the guileless hero of his tale.^[7]

Timeline

• 15th century – Octavien de Saint-Gelais uses it for “dazzling”.^[2]
• 1516 – Bloch and Wartburg's first date.^[4]
• 1549 – Du Bellay uses it for “kind, benevolent”.^[2][3]
• 1561 – The adverb candidement appears.^[3]
• 1611 – Cotgrave records “pure, frank, sincere”.^[2]
• 1668 – Hauteroche uses it pejoratively for “naive”.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Full of candeur: ingenuous, innocent, naive, as in une remarque candide.^[8][9][10]
2. That shows candour, as in un regard candide.^[8][9]
3. (literary) Of a pure, dazzling white.^[7][2]

Word family

• candidement

Related words

• candeur
• candidat
• Latin candidus

Usage notes

In a debate, Monsieur Candide is the person whose role is to ask experts naive questions.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
6. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
10. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)