Definition: Second
Etymology 1
From Middle English secunde, second, secound, secund, borrowed from Old French second, seond, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order”), from root of sequor (“I follow”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Doublet of secundo. Displaced native twoth and partially displaced native other (from Old English ōþer (“other; next; second”)).
Adjective
second (not comparable)
- Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
- You take the first one, and I'll have the second.
- The second volume in "The Lord of the Rings" series is called "The Two Towers".
- Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank;
- Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
- Residents of Texas prepared for Hurricane Harvey, which would in some ways turn out to become the second Hurricane Katrina.
Derived terms
- second best
- second cousin
- second fiddle
- second-guess
- second-in-command
- second nature
- second-rate
- second wind
Adverb
second (not comparable)
- (with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.
- Saturn is the second largest planet.
- After the first occurrence but before the third.
- He is batting second today.
Noun
second (plural seconds)
- Something that is number two in a series.
- Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
- The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
- (usually in the plural) A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
- They were discounted because they contained blemishes, nicks, or were otherwise factory seconds.
- (usually in the plural) An additional helping of food.
- That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds.
- Another chance to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around.
- (music) The interval between two adjacent notes in a diatonic scale (either or both of them may be raised or lowered from the basic scale via any type of accidental).
- The second gear of an engine.
- (baseball) Second base.
- The agent of a party to an honor dispute whose role was to try to resolve the dispute or to make the necessary arrangements for a duel.
Verb
second (third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded)
- (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two.
- I second the motion.
- To follow in the next place; to succeed.
- (climbing) To climb after a lead climber.
Etymology 2
From Middle English secunde, seconde, borrowed from Old French seconde, from Medieval Latin secunda, short for secunda pars minuta (“second diminished part (of the hour)”).
Noun
second (plural seconds)
- One-sixtieth of a minute; the SI unit of time, defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of caesium-133 in a ground state at a temperature of absolute zero and at rest.
- A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
- (informal) A short, indeterminate amount of time.
- I'll be there in a second.
Derived terms
- millisecond
- nanosecond
- second hand
Etymology 3
From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundō (“assist, make favorable”).
Verb
second (third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded)
- (transitive) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
- The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
- (transitive) To assist or support; to back.
- (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from the English adjective above.)
- I second the motion.
- (transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.
Derived terms
- secondment
- secondee
Noun
second (plural seconds)
- One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant
- One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
- If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.
Credits
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