LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

candēla

candēla f (genitive candēlae)
Classical[kanˈdeː.ɫa]Ecclesiastical[kanˈdɛː.la]

Meaning

  1. A light made of wax or tallow; tallow candle or taper.
  2. A fire.
  3. A cord covered with wax.

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Candela · Lucerna

Candela is a candle, which can be carried about like a torch, as λαμπάς, whereas lucerna can only be considered as a burning light on a table, like λύχνος. (vi. 50.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecandēlacandēlae
genitivecandēlaecandēlārum
dativecandēlaecandēlīs
accusativecandēlamcandēlās
ablativecandēlācandēlīs
vocativecandēlacandēlae

candēla, ae, f. candeo; Fr. chandelle, Engl. candle; hence,
I. a light made of wax or tallow, a wax-light, tallow-candle, taper.
I. Lit., Varr. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 727; Col. 2, 22, 3; as a light of the poor, diff. from lucerna, used by the rich, Mart. 14, 43.— Hence, brevis, Juv. 3, 287: ancilla lucernae, Mart. 14, 40; of peeled rushes, used in funeral processions, Plin. 16, 37, 70, § 178; Pers. 3, 103.—
II. Meton.
A. Fire: candelam apponere valvis, to set fire to the doors, Juv. 9, 98 (cf. id. 13, 146).—
B. A cord covered with wax (which preserved it from decay): in alterā (arcā) duo fasces candelis involuti septenos habuere libros, Liv. 40, 29, 6 Weissenb. ad loc.; cf. Hem. ap. Plin. 13, 13, 27, § 86; used in cleansing and polishing, Plin. 33, 7, 40, § 122; cf. Vitr. 7, 9, 3.

Origins

Proto-Indo-European *(s)kend-der. Proto-Italic *kandēō Latin candeō Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁-lós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₁-léh₂ Proto-Italic *-ēlā Latin -ēla Latin candēla From candeō (“shine, glitter; glow”) + -ēla.

Elsewhere
  • Catalancandela
  • Englishcandela
  • Frenchcandela
  • Englishcandlefrom Old English candel
  • Portuguesecandela
  • Albaniankëndell
  • Ancient Greekκανδήλη
  • Basquekandela
  • Dutchcandela
  • Scotscandilfrom Old English candel
Southern Gallo-Romance
  • Catalancanela
  • Occitancandèla
  • Occitanchandela
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italiancandela
  • Italiancandelo
  • Corsicancandela
  • Corsicancandelu
  • Siciliancannila
  • Venetancandéła
Ibero-Romance
  • Spanishcandelafrom Old Spanish candela
  • Aragonesecandela
  • Asturiancandela
  • Extremadurancandela
  • Leonesecandela
  • Mirandesecandela
  • Old Galician-Portuguesecandea
  • Old Galician-Portuguesecãdea
  • Old Galician-Portuguesecamdea
  • Ladinokandelafrom Old Spanish candela
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friuliancjandele
  • Ladinciandeila
  • Ladinciandëra
  • Romanshchandaila
Gallo-Italic
  • Lombardcandéla
  • Piedmontesecandèila
  • Piedmontesecandèira
  • Piedmontesecandèlia
  • Piedmontesecandaia
Northern Gallo-Romance
  • Franco-Provençalchandêla
  • Gallochandellefrom Old French chandoile
  • Middle Frenchchandellefrom Old French chandoile
  • Normancandellefrom Old French chandoile
  • Picardcandellefrom Old French chandoile
  • Walloontchandèlefrom Old French chandoile

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesCandelaCandela a candle, made either of wax (cerea) or tallow (sebacea), was used universally by the Romans before the invention of oil lamps (lucernae). (Va…

Quick answers

What does candēla mean in Latin?
candēla, a noun, means “A light made of wax or tallow; tallow candle or taper.; A fire.”.
What is the genitive of candēla?
The genitive singular is candēlae. candēla is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce candēla?
In classical Latin, [kanˈdeː.ɫa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [kanˈdɛː.la].