Second

Pronunciation

• enPR: sĕʹkÉ™nd, IPA: /ˈsÉ›k.É™nd/
• Hyphenation: sec + ond

From Old French second, from Latin secundus ("following, next in order"), from root of sequor ("I follow"), from Proto-Indo-European *sekÊ·- ("to follow").

Full definition of second

Adjective

1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
   He lives on Second Street.
   The second volume in "The Lord of the Rings" series is called "The Two Towers".
   You take the first one, and I'll have the second.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 20, The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen....The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
• LandorMay the day when we become the second people upon earth ... be the day of our utter extirpation.
3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
• ShakespeareA Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!

Alternative forms

• (number-two) 2nd, 2d, IInd; in names of monarchs and popes II

Synonyms

• (nonstandard) twoth

Derived terms

Adverb

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

Noun

1. One that is number two in a series.
2. One that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
3. The place that is next below 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. A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
• 2003, Sheila Ryan Wallace, The Sea Captain and His Ladies, page 22:The policeman smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Now if you'll follow me, I'll escort you to the Victoria."
  "Oh, there's no need of that. If you'll just point me in the right direction..."
  That's what got you in trouble the first time around. You don't need a second.
• 2009, Paulette Jiles, Stormy Weather, page 37:Smoky Joe ran against a Houston horse named Cherokee Chief.
  “Don't hit him,” Jeanine said to the jockey. “Maybe once. But you don't get a second.”
• 2011, Karen Miller, The Innocent Mage:I'll have one chance to show them that's no longer true. One chance ... and if I stumble, I'll not get a second.
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.

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ•'kÉ™nd, IPA: /ˈsÉ›k.É™nd/
• Hyphenation: sec + ond

From Old French seconde, from Medieval Latin secunda, short for secunda pars minuta ("second diminished part (of the hour)")

Alternative forms

• (SI unit of time) abbreviations s, sec; symbols s SI and non-scientific usage, sec in non-scientific usage only
• (unit of angle) abbreviations arcsec, "

Noun

1. 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; one-sixtieth of a minute.
2. A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
3. A short, indeterminate amount of time.I'll be there in a second.

Synonyms

• (unit of angle) second of arc, arcsecond
• (short, indeterminate amount of time) colloquial sec

Derived terms

• millisecond
• nanosecond

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: sÉ™kŏnd', IPA: /səˈkÉ’nd/
• Rhymes: -É’nd
• Hyphenation: sec + ond

• UK enPR: sÄ•'kÉ™nd, IPA: /ˈsÉ›kÉ™nd/
• Hyphenation: sec + ond

From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundo ("assist, make favorable")

Verb

1. (transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
• 1998 — Paul Leonard, Dreamstone Moon, ch 9Daniel had still been surprised, however, to find the lab area deserted, all the scientists apparently seconded by Cleomides's military friends.
2. (transitive) To assist or support; to back.
• ShakespeareWe have supplies to second our attempt.
• Alexander PopeIn human works though laboured on with pain,
  A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain;
  In God's, one single can its end produce,
  Yet serves to second too some other use.
3. (transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two.I second the motion.
4. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
• FullerIn the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill.
• SouthSin is seconded with sin.

Derived terms

• secondment
• secondee

Noun

1. One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
• 1820, Pierce Egan, Sporting Anecdotes, The dogs however parted, and after a little handling by their seconds immediately returned to the charge
• 1973, Frank Brady, Bobby Fischer: Profile of a Prodigy, They find ways to take advice from their seconds or they arrange the schedule against you as they did to me in the finals of the 1962 World Tournament
• 1992, International Courts for the Twenty-First Century, Vaguely reminiscent of the use of "seconds" among duelists, this provision required that the two hostile nations stop threatening each other and, instead, to let two appointed countries (their "seconds") try and solve their difficulties
• 2009, David Brakke, Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early ..., Theodore's practice is described as a model for the housemasters and their seconds
2. One who agrees in addition, or such a motion, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second.
3. (obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
• J. FletcherGive second, and my love
  Is everlasting thine.

Anagrams

• coends, sconed