a person who is trying to get a job, win an election, or be chosen for a position
Maria decided to run as a candidate for class president.
The company interviewed five strong candidates before making an offer.
✦ Late Middle English, from Latin candidatus ‘clothed in white’, based on candidus ‘white’. In ancient Rome, people seeking public office wore a white toga.
a particular day of the month or year, shown on a calendar or stated as an exact time
What date is the science fair?
Please write today’s date at the top of your worksheet.
✦ From Latin “datum” meaning “given,” first used in medieval Latin for the time something was written.
an occasion when two people who are attracted to each other go out together
Liam asked Emma to go on a date to the new Italian restaurant.
Our first date was a walk by the river at sunset.
✦ Sense of “romantic meeting” appeared in U.S. college slang around 1890, probably from the idea of fixing a day.
the person you go out with on a romantic occasion
My date waited for me outside the theater.
She introduced her date to her parents after dinner.
✦ Developed from the sense of a romantic meeting; recorded from the 1930s.
a small, sweet, brown fruit that grows on the date palm tree, often eaten dried
I packed a few dates in my lunchbox for a healthy snack.
Date syrup is made by slowly cooking crushed dates.
✦ Old French “dattier,” from Latin “dactylus,” from Greek “daktylos” meaning “finger,” because of the fruit’s shape.
to write or mark the date on something
Please date and sign the contract.
She carefully dated each photo before putting it in the album.
✦ Middle English from the noun meaning “day written on a document.”
to regularly go out with someone in a romantic relationship
Are you dating anyone right now?
Sophia and Mark have dated for six months.
✦ From U.S. slang sense of the noun “date” as a romantic meeting, late 19th century.
to come from or have begun at a particular time in the past, often followed by “from” or “back to”
The castle dates from the 12th century.
Some of these traditions date back to ancient times.
✦ Extension of the verb meaning, first recorded in the late 16th century.
to give someone the most recent news or information
Let me update you on the project status.
Our teacher updated us about the schedule change.
to give someone the authority or power to act
The shareholders mandated the board to search for a new CEO.
The treaty mandates the commission to oversee elections.
to provide enough space or lodging for someone or something
The new hostel can accommodate two hundred students during the conference.
Is there a shelf that will accommodate all these heavy textbooks?
✦ From Latin accommodāre “to make fit, adapt,” from ad- “to” + commodus “suitable.”
(specialized) for the eye to change its focus so that objects at different distances can be seen clearly
A child's eyes can accommodate easily to read tiny letters up close.
As people age, their lenses lose the ability to accommodate.
