candle
UK[ˈkændl]US[ˈkændl]
n
a stick of wax with a string through the middle that is burned to give light or heat
n
a unit for measuring the brightness of light
Etymology
the word 'candle' entered english from old english 'candel', which was borrowed from latin 'candēla'. this latin term originates from the verb 'candēre', meaning 'to shine or glow', a root which also gives us words like 'candid' and 'incandescent'. the semantic journey is direct, moving from the concept of glowing light to the specific object that produces a steady, glowing flame. the logic of its evolution is clear: the name of the object is derived from its primary function of emitting light.
Analysis
the word 'candle' is a simplex word. it is a loanword from latin 'candēla', meaning 'a light, torch, tallow candle', which is derived from the verb 'candēre', meaning 'to shine, glow, be white'. the functional role is that of a simple noun.
Examples
she lit a candle on the dining table for a romantic atmosphere.
the power outage forced us to rely on candles for several hours.
this lamp has a brightness of approximately 60 candles.