Also 7–9 candor. [17th c. candor, a. L. candor (-ōrem) dazzling whiteness, brilliancy, innocency, purity, sincerity, f. root cand- of candēre to be white and shining, ac-cendĕre to set alight, kindle: cf. candid, candle. F. candeur (16th c. in Littré) may have aided; the 14th-c. example is properly Latin.]
† 1. Brilliant whiteness; brilliancy. Obs.
[1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xi. (1495), 871. Candor is passynge whytnesse].
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 91. This nights trauaile was bettered by Cynthia’s candor.
1692. Tryon, Good House-w., ii. 25. Milk … the Emblem of Innocence, deriving that aimable and pleasant Candor from a Gleam of the divine Light.
† 2. Stainlessness of character; purity, integrity, innocence. Obs.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., V. v. (1616), 676. Helpe his fortune, though with some small straine Of his owne candor.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xxv. 388. If afterwards he comes to see the candor of his abused friend.
1703. Rowe, Fair Penit., I. i. 376. Pure native Truth And Candour of the Mind.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Eng. Sat., Wks. 1730, I. 29. My lord Dorsets morals and integrity, his candor and his honour.
3. Freedom from mental bias, openness of mind; fairness, impartiality, justice.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Epigr., cxxiii. (R.). Writing thyselfe, or judging others writ, I know not which th’ hast most, candor or wit.
1653. Hales’ Dissert. Peace, in Phenix (1708), II. 388. If thou hast but a grain of Candor in thy heart, and wilt pass Sentence according to the Prescript of Truth.
1702. Clarendon’s Hist. Reb., I. Pref. 2. The candor, and impartiality of what he relates.
1794. Paley, Evid., III. ii. (1817), 282. A species of candour which is shown towards every other book, is sometimes refused to the Scriptures.
1836. Whately, Chr. Evid., V. To exercise candour in judging fairly of the evidences.
1857. H. Reed, Lect. Brit. Poets, xv. 202. In criticism candour with its comprehensive sympathies, is as rare, as bigotry is frequent.
† 4. Freedom from malice, favorable disposition, kindliness; ‘sweetness of temper, kindness’ (J.). Obs.
1653. Walton, Angler, To Rdr. If he [the Reader] bring not candor to the reading of this Discourse, he shall … injure me … by too many Criticisms.
1666. Dryden, Ann. Mirab., Ded. (Globe ed.), 42. Your candour in pardoning my errors.
1751. Johnson, Cheynel, Wks. IV. 508. He shews himself sincere, but without candour. Ibid. (1765), Pref. Shaks., Wks. IX. 252. That bigotry which sets candour higher than truth.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 226. A gentleman of unbounded candor, and a most benevolent disposition.
5. Freedom from reserve in one’s statements; openness, frankness, ingenuousness, outspokenness.
1769. Lett. Junius, ii. 11. This writer, with all his boasted candour, has not told us the real cause of the evils.
1836. Hor. Smith, Tin Trump. (1876), 72. Candour in some people may be compared to barley sugar drops, in which the acid preponderates over the sweetness.
a. 1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. II. iv. 257. Openness and candour are rare qualities in a statesman.
