Candid, a.
Etymology: [F. candide (cf. It. candido), L. candidus white, fr. candëre to be of a glowing white; akin to accend, incend, to set on fire, Skr. chand to shane. Cf. Candle, Incense.]
1. White. [Obs.] The box receives all black; but poured from thence, The stones came candid forth, the hue of innocence. Dryden.
2. Free from undue bias; disposed to think and judge according to truth and justice, or without partiality or prejudice; fair; just; impartial; as, a candid opinion. "Candid and dispassionate men." W. Irving.
3. Open; frank; ingenuous; outspoken.
Syn. -- Fair; open; ingenuous; impartial; just; frank; artless; unbiased; equitable. -- Candid, Fair, Open, Frank, Ingenuous. A man is fair when he puts things on a just or equitable footing; he is candid when be looks impartially on both sides of a subject, doing justice especially to the motives and conduct of an opponent; he is open and frank when he declares his sentiments without reserve; he is ingenuous when he does this from a noble regard for truth. Fair dealing; candid investigation; an open temper; a frank disposition; an ingenuous answer or declaration.
Shades of meaning
A candid statement is meant to be true to the real facts and just to all parties; a fair statement is really so. Fair is applied to the conduct; candid is not; as, fair treatment, "a fair field, and no favor." One who is frank has a fearless and unconstrained truthfulness. Honest and ingenuous unite in expressing contempt for deceit. On the other hand, artless, guileless, naive, simple, and unsophisticated express the goodness which comes from want of the knowledge or thought of evil. As truth is not always agreeable or timely, candid and frank have often an objectionable sense; "to be candid with you," "to be perfectly frank," are regarded as sure preludes to something disagreeable. Open and unreserved may imply unstudied truthfulness or defiant recklessness; as, open admiration, open robbery. There may be transparent integrity or transparent fraud. Sincere applies to the feelings, as being all that one's words would imply.
Prepositions
Candid in debate; candid to or toward opponents; candid with friend or foe; to be candid about or in regard to the matter.