Candela
/kænˈdɛlə/noun
A unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units.
Did you know?Candela comes from Latin candela, meaning a candle or light, from candēre, “to shine, glow,” the same ancient root behind words for brilliance and white-hot heat.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kand-
“to shine, glow, or be bright”
Latin
Latin
candēre
“to shine, glow, be white-hot”
Latin
Latin
candela
“a candle; a light source”
Late Latin / Romance
Latin
candela
“candle”
Modern English
English
candela
“the SI base unit of luminous intensity”