Lewis & Short

1. candĭdātus, a, um, adj. [candidus, like albatus, atratus, from albus, ater].

  1. I. In adj. uses,
    1. A. Lit., clothed in white (only in Plaut. and in post-Aug. prose; Cic., Hor., and Plin. use albatus): aequius vos erat Candidatas venire hostiatasque, Plaut. Rud. 1, 5, 12: mastigia, id. Cas. 2, 8, 10; *Suet. Aug. 98; Prud. στεφ. 1, 67.
    2. B. Trop.: farinulentā cinere sordide candidati homunculi, App. M. 9, p. 222, 33; cf. candido.
  2. II. Subst.
    1. A. candĭdātus. i, m., a candidate for office, because clothed in a glittering white toga; cf. Dict. of Antiq. (class. and freq.).
      1. 1. Lit.: praetorius, a candidate for the prœtorship, Cic. Mur. 27, 57: tribunicii, id. Q. Fr. 2, 14 (15), 4; Liv. 4, 6, 10: consulatus, Plin. Pan. 95 fin.; Suet. Caes. 24; id. Aug. 4: aedilitatis ac mox praeturae, id. Vesp. 2: quaesturae, id. Tib. 42: summae equestris gradus, i. e. praefecturae, id. Galb. 14: sacerdotiorum, Sen. Ben. 7, 28, 2.
        From their obsequious demeanor towards the electors, called officiosissima natio candidatorum, Cic. Pis. 23, 55: improbitati irasci candidatorum, id. Mil. 16, 42: aedilitas alicui candidato data, id. Verr. 2, 5, 14, § 37: candidatus Caesaris, a candidate especially recommended by Cœsar, Vell. 2, 124, 4; cf. Suet. Caes. 41; id. Aug. 56; Tac. A. 1, 15.
        Hence prov.: petis tamquam Caesaris candidatus, i. e. certain of the result, Quint. 6, 3, 62.
        In the time of the emperors: candidati Principis, quœstors appointed by the emperor himself to read his speeches and rescripts, Dig. 1, 13; Sid. Ep. 2, 80; cf. Tac. A. 16, 27; Suet. Aug. 65; id. Tit. 6.
      2. 2. Trop., he who strives after or aims at a thing, a candidate or a claimant of something (post-Aug.): candidatus non consulatus tantum, sed immortalitatis et gloriae, Plin. Pan. 63, 1: majus est opus atque praestantius, ad quod ipse (sc. orator) tendit, et cujus est velut candidatus, Quint. 12, 2, 27: Atticae eloquentiae, id. prooem. § 13: crucis, i. e. soon to suffer crucifixion, App. M. 1, p. 108: aeternitatis, Tert. Res Carn. 58: philosophiae, Symm. Ep. 1, 41.
    2. B. candĭdāta, ae, f., one who seeks or solicits an office, a candidate (rare and postAug.): sacerdotii, Quint. Decl. 252 fin.