The word SHERIFF has an old English etymology.
It comes from the words – SHIRE REEVE.
An appointee who was the chief representative
in a shire for the royal authority.
A shire was a county.
The word CANDIDATE comes from the Latin – CANDIDATUS –
which means – WEARING A CLEAN WHITE TOGA.
In ancient Rome, a man running for public office
stood out by wearing a cleaner, brighter toga than the rest.
Hence, the man was called a CANDIDATE.
The words – CANDID, CANDLE, CANDESCENT
and INCANDESCENT – are also derived from CANDIDATUS.
A candle gives off bright light and
lighting is called candescent or incandescent.
