I. ˈkandē, -ˈaa-, -di also -ˈai- noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: short for sugar candy, from Middle English sugre candy, part translation of Middle French sucre candi, part translation of Old Italian zucchero candi, from zucchero sugar + Arabic qandī candied, from qand cane sugar, probably of Dravidian origin (whence Sanskrit khaṇḍaka candy); akin to Tamil kaṇṭu candy, kaṭṭu to harden, condense
1.
a. : crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup
b. : a confection of crystallized sugar
c. : the density at which boiling syrup will form candy
boil to a candy
2.
a. : a food made of a sugar paste or syrup often enriched and varied with coloring and flavoring (as chocolate) and filling (as fruits or nuts) and shaped into various attractive forms
b. : a piece of this food
3. : a doughy bee food of sugar and honey : boiled sugar prepared as food for bees
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: perhaps from Italian candire, back-formation from candito (in zucchero candito ), alteration of candi (in zucchero candi )
transitive verb
1. : to encrust in or coat with sugar often by cooking down in a heavy syrup
candy fruits
: saturate with syrup : coat with sugar by rolling or pressing
candy dates
2. : to make seem pleasant and attractive : sugar , sweeten
candying up the duke's reputation
3. : to crystallize into sugar, candy, or a candylike substance
excessive boiling candies jelly
intransitive verb
: to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Marathi khaṇḍī & Tamil-Malayalam kaṇṭi, probably fr Sanskrit khaṇḍa piece, portion, probably of Proto-Munda origin, akin to Santali guṇḍa pieces, small parts
: any of various units of weight used in India, Burma, and Ceylon usually equal to between 500 and 600 pounds