2. Etymology: from Latin candidus, "white" and candidatus, "clothed in white" from the white togas, which were long, shining, white cloaks that were worn by Romans who were seeking political offices.
Although the word candidate refers to the purity of "white" there are too many who are or who become corrupted
When a man ran for public office in ancient Rome, he obtained a toga which was a long, shining, white cloak.
With this "shining white" outfit, the candidate stood out in a crowd and the people might have considered him to be associated with purity and goodness because of the symbolism of the garment.
"The conservative candidate promised to eliminate inflation, and the liberal candidate promised to eliminate unemployment."
With political corruption making daily headlines, and with elected officials serving jail terms, we can't help but marvel at the fact that the word candidate derives from the root which means "to be shining white." White, of course, symbolizes purity.
The meaning of the root originated with an old Roman custom. When a man ran for public office in ancient Rome, he bought himself a toga which was a long, shining, white cloak.
With this garb, the candidate stood out in a crowd. The people noticed him and, because of his white garment, associated the candidate with "purity and goodness".