Candelabrum or candelabra? Which one is correct?

Question

Merriam-Webster and Wiktionary/Wikipedia give somewhat different definitions for these two terms, so I was wondering which one is correct?

Wiktionary defines candelabrum and candelabra like this:

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/candelabrum

1. A candle holder.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/candelabra

1 Plural form of candelabrum.

2 (common usage, though somewhat incorrect) a single candelabrum

And Merriam-Webster like this:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candelabrum

: candelabra

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/candelabra

: a branched candlestick or lamp with several lights

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

You can consider a branched candlestick as either singualr or plural, it seems to me. In addition, relatively few native speakers realize that candleabra is plural. No doubt the distinctive singular will disappear in a few decades.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks.

So in other words, you'd say Wiktionary is technically correct in defining 'candelabrum' as the multi branched candlestick, but in general usage 'candelabra' is the prevalent form, although somewhat incorrect?

Also, would the plural of candelabra be 'candelabras' in common usage?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Wiktionary is technically correct in defining 'candelabrum' as the multi branched candlestick-- Yes.

but in general usage 'candelabra' is the prevalent form, although somewhat incorrect?-- Yes, that's right.

Also, would the plural of candelabra be 'candelabras' in common usage?-- Yes, indeed.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks a lot!

Skeptical Cynic · Answer

I would intuit that without "looking it up" its likely that a majority of "average" Americans would guess that Detroit is the state capital of Michigan, Las Vegas is the state capital of Nevada, New Orleans is the state capital of Louisiana, Minneapolis is the state capital of Minnesota, St Louis is the capital of Missouri, Wheeling is the state capital; of West Virginia.. A good number of these American' will remeber that these were the capitals they learned and when they are told what the actual state capitals are will came they've been changed as a result of the Mandela effect. The point I Hope I've made is that just because a many people will state with certainly what they think they know, it ain't necessarily so an it shouldn't be accepted as so!

Candelabrum or candelabra? Which one is correct?

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