Candy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkæn.di/

Definitions

1. A sweet confection made from sugar or chocolate, often flavored and colored, typically enjoyed as a treat or dessert
2. A sugary delight crafted from various sweeteners, often combined with ingredients like chocolate and flavors, and commonly consumed as a snack or dessert
3. A sweetened food item produced using sugar or other sweet substances, typically featuring flavors and colors, often enjoyed in small bites

Etymology: The sweetness in "candy" traces back to a word for broken pieces. The Sanskrit "khaṇḍa" meant a piece or fragment, and it could also refer to candied sugar and dried molasses, which were sold in broken lumps. From there it passed into Persian as "kand," and then into Arabic as "qand," meaning rock candy. Arabic speakers paired it with "sukkar" (sugar) to form "sukkar qandī," sugar of the kind made from rock candy. Europe received the term through medieval trade. Old French turned it into "sucre candi," literally "candied sugar," and Middle English borrowed it as "sugre candy." The word thus carried an Arabic and Persian path before reaching English, and its earliest sense was closer to a crystallised sugar than the mixed confections we buy today. Over time the first half of the phrase dropped away, leaving the single word "candy" to cover any sweet.

Synonyms: sweets, confectionery, treats, chocolates, goodies

Antonyms: vegetables, savory foods, bitter foods, healthy snacks, salty snacks