Candid

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈkæn.dɪd/

Definitions

1. Honest and straightforward in expression, showing thoughts or feelings openly without reservation or pretense
2. Being open and sincere in communication, revealing true thoughts and feelings without disguise or hesitation
3. Characterized by a frankness and directness in sharing one's feelings or opinions, often devoid of any artifice

Etymology: The adjective "candid" meant "white" in Latin, and that literal sense is still visible in its ancestry. Latin "candidus" came from "candere," "to shine or glow," so the word began as a description of brightness and purity. Latin speakers also used "candidus" of clothing: Roman office-seekers wore a bright white toga, and a "candidatus" was a man in that gleaming robe, which is where our word "candidate" comes from. English borrowed the Latin adjective directly, and the move from "white" to "honest and open" happened through the idea of clean, unstained purity. A thing that is white is plain to see, with no hidden marks, and a person described as candid is one whose words and intentions are similarly transparent. The sense of brightness and frankness is therefore a metaphor built on the original colour.

Synonyms: frank, honest, open

Antonyms: deceitful, dishonest