A cylinder of wax or similar material with a central wick that burns to provide light.
From Old English 'candel', from Latin 'candēla' meaning 'light, torch' from 'candēre' (to shine, be white). The word has remained remarkably stable across languages and centuries, reflecting the universal importance of artificial light.
Before electric lighting, candle-making was so crucial that 'chandler' (candle-maker) became a common profession and surname, while 'candlepower' remained a standard unit of light measurement well into the electric age. The phrase 'burning the candle at both ends' perfectly captures how these simple objects became metaphors for consuming resources too quickly.
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