Kandidat German · revision 36169

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1580|origins=la candeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /kandiˈdaːt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''Kandidat''' ''m'' (genitive Kandidaten, plural Kandidaten, feminine Kandidatin)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|candidātus|t=candidate for office]], borrowed in the 16th century.^(Kluge 2011|469)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DFWB) The Latin noun is the adjective “dressed in white” used as a noun, from [[m|la|candidus|t=shining white, spotless]], from [[m|la|candeō|t=to shine, glow]].^(Kluge 2011|469)^(Pfeifer 1993) In Rome it named a man seeking a public office, who wore a toga whitened with chalk while he canvassed.^(Kluge 2011|469)^(Duden 7 2014|426) The same loan is [[nl|kandidaat]], [[en|candidate]], [[fr|candidat]] and [[sv|kandidat]].^(Kluge 2011|469)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word first belonged to the language of the universities, for a candidate for an academic degree: the statutes of Heidelberg University of 1580 speak of ''die candidaten, so das magisterium begern'', “the candidates who seek the master's degree”.^(DFWB)^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) The older form was often ''Candidate''.^(DFWB)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 18th century it was used especially of young theologians who took posts before their examination, as in Gellert's fable of 1746 about ''ein sehr geschickter Kandidat'', and at the same time it widened to anyone applying for an office.^(DFWB)^(Pfeifer 1993) Paul dates the general sense “someone considered for something” to the 18th century, with ''Wahlkandidat'' from 1790, ''Todeskandidat'' “someone doomed to die” from 1844 and the joking ''Heiratskandidat'' from 1847.^(Paul 2002) ''Kandidatur'' and ''kandidieren'' followed in the 19th century, ''Kandidatur'' perhaps after [[fr|candidature]].^(Paul 2002)^(Pfeifer 1993) In the Soviet Union and the GDR ''Kandidat'' was also a probationary member of the party and an academic degree.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1580 – First record, in the statutes of Heidelberg University.^(DFWB)

+ * 1746 – Gellert uses it of a young preacher before his examination.^(DFWB)

+ * 18th century – The general sense “applicant for an office” appears.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Paul 2002)

+ * 1790 – ''Wahlkandidat'' is first recorded.^(Paul 2002)

+ * 19th century – ''Kandidatur'' and ''kandidieren'' are formed.^(Paul 2002)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|candidate]], someone who applies for something or stands for [[m|en|election]]: ''Die Partei stellt einen jungen Kandidaten auf.''^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical, in socialist countries)'' A probationary member of a party.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # An advanced university student; an examinee in a final university examination (abbreviated ''cand.'').^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+ # ''(historical, Soviet Union)'' An academic degree, as ''Kandidat der Wissenschaften''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Kandidatin]]

+ * [[Kandidatur]]

+ * [[kandidieren]]

+ * [[Todeskandidat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Kandelaber]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}