Defn: Of or pertaining to Candia; Cretary.
CANDITE
Can"dite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of spinel, of a dark color, found at Candy, in
Ceylon.
CANDLE
Can"dle, n. Etym: [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a
(white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. candëre to be white. See
Candid, and cf. Chandler, Cannel, Kindle.]
1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish light. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Shak.
Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or by casting or running in a mold.
2. That which gives light; a luminary. By these blessed candles of the night. Shak. Candle nut, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub (Aleurites triloba), a native of some of the Pacific islands; — socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has many uses. — Candle power (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle. Electric candle, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; - - called also, from the name of the inventor, Jablockoff candle. — Excommunication by inch of candle, a form of excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle burns. — Not worth the candle, not worth the cost or trouble. — Rush candle, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease. — Sale by inch of candle, an auction in which persons are allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out. — Standard candle (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour. — To curse by bell, book and candle. See under Bell.
CANDLEBERRY TREE
Can"dle*ber`ry tree. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (the Myrica cerifera, or wax-bearing myrtle), common in North America, the little nuts of which are covered with a greenish white wax, which was formerly, used for hardening candles; — also called bayberry tree, bayberry, or candleberry.
CANDLEBOMB
Can"dle*bomb`, n.