second

Question

English - Etymology 1

From Old French _second_, from Latin _secundus_ (“following, next in order”), from root of _sequor_ (“I follow”), from Proto-Indo-European _*sekʷ-_ (“to follow”). PRONUNCIATION * enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/ * (US) IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nʔ/ * Hyphenation: sec‧ond ADJECTIVE SECOND (_not comparable_) * 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._ * Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior. * Landor May the day when we become the SECOND people upon earth […] be the day of our utter extirpation. * Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another. * Shakespeare A 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 TRANSLATIONS ADVERB SECOND (_not comparable_) * (with superlative) At the second rank. _Saturn is the SECOND largest planet._ * After the first occurrence but before the third occurrence. _He is batting SECOND today._ TRANSLATIONS NOUN SECOND (_plural_ SECONDS) * One that is number two in a series. * One that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority. * The place that is next below 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._ * 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. * (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. TRANSLATIONS

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

Pronunciation

enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nʔ/
Hyphenation: sec‧ond

Translations

Noun

second (plural seconds)

One that is number two in a series.
One that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
The place that is next below 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.
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.
(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.

Translations

English - Etymology 2

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, "

Pronunciation

enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nʔ/
Hyphenation: sec‧ond

Noun

second (plural seconds)

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.
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
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
Appendix:Words used as placeholders to count seconds

Derived terms

Translations

English - Etymology 3

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

Pronunciation

Transfer temporarily

enPR: səkŏnd', IPA^(key): /səˈkɒnd/
Rhymes: -ɒnd
Hyphenation: sec‧ond

Assist, Agree

enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
(US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nʔ/
Hyphenation: sec‧ond

Verb

second (third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded)

(transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
- 1998 — Paul Leonard, Dreamstone Moon, ch 9
  
  Daniel had still been surprised, however, to find the lab area deserted, all the scientists apparently seconded by Cleomides's military friends.
(transitive) To assist or support; to back.
- Shakespeare
  
  We have supplies to second our attempt.
- Alexander Pope
  
  In 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.
(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.
- Fuller
  
  In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill.
- South
  
  Sin is seconded with sin.
(climbing) To climb after a lead climber.

One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
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.
(obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
- J. Fletcher
  
  Give second, and my love / Is everlasting thine.

Translations

English - External Links

arcsecond on Wikipedia.en.Wikipedia:arcsecond
second on Wikipedia.en.Wikipedia (time)
second (parliamentary procedure) on Wikipedia.en.Wikipedia:second (parliamentary procedure)
second-hand goods on Wikipedia.en.Wikipedia:second-hand goods