Definition: Second

From New World Encyclopedia
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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)

  1. 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".
  2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank;
  3. 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)

  1. (with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.
    Saturn is the second largest planet.
  2. After the first occurrence but before the third.
    He is batting second today.

Noun

second (plural seconds)

  1. Something that is number two in a series.
  2. Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
  3. The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
  4. (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.
  5. (usually in the plural) An additional helping of food.
    That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds.
  6. Another chance to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around.
  7. (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).
  8. The second gear of an engine.
  9. (baseball) Second base.
  10. 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)

  1. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two.
    I second the motion.
  2. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
  3. (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)

  1. 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.
  2. A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
  3. (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)

  1. (transitive) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
  2. The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
  3. (transitive) To assist or support; to back.
  4. (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.
  5. (transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.

Derived terms

  • secondment
  • secondee

Noun

second (plural seconds)

  1. One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant
  2. 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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