Word Origin

Chaque conversation nous rappelle que nous sommes liés de bien plus de façons que nous ne le pensons souvent. Le mot anglais « candidate » nous vient directement de la Rome antique !

These are the types of random thoughts that pop into my head during coffee break haha. I imagine it is connected to the change of Prime Minister yesterday in the UK!

Word Journey: Candidate

We use the word candidate all the time in recruitment and politics, but its history goes back over two millennia.
It comes from the Latin word candidatus, which literally means "clothed in white."
In Ancient Rome, anyone running for public office would wear a special toga that was bleached brilliant, shining white (toga candida). This stark white garment was a public symbol of:
Purity of character
Honesty & transparency
Openness to public scrutiny
They were literally known as "the white-robed ones."
If the Romans chose a shining white toga to signal trustworthiness... what signals do candidates send today? Is it a polished LinkedIn profile, a warm tone in an email, or authentic recommendations? 💡


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