second
English[edit]
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Cardinal: two Ordinal: second Latinate ordinal: secondary Adverbial: two times, twice Multiplier: twofold Latinate multiplier: double Distributive: doubly Collective: both, pair, twosome Multiuse collective: doublet, couple, couplet Greek or Latinate collective: dyad Metric collective prefix: double- Greek collective prefix: di-, duo- Latinate collective prefix: bi- Fractional: half Metric fractional prefix: demi- Latinate fractional prefix: semi- Elemental: twin, doublet Greek prefix: deutero- Number of musicians: duo, duet, duplet Number of years: biennium |
Etymology 1[edit]
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”)).
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈsɛkənd/
- (US) enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
- (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈsɛkɪnd/
Audio - 'a second' (UK) (file) Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛkənd
- Hyphenation: sec‧ond
Adjective[edit]
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.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249:
- 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.
- Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
- 1824, Walter Savage Landor, “Conversation I. Richard I and the Abbot of Boxley.”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume I, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 6:
- 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.
- Residents of Texas prepared for Hurricane Harvey, which would in some ways turn out to become the second Hurricane Katrina.
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 180, column 2:
- A Daniel ſtill ſay I, a ſecond Daniel, […]
Synonyms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Adverb[edit]
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.
Translations[edit]
Noun[edit]
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.
- 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[1], 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[2], 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[3]:
- 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.
- The agent of a party to an honour dispute whose role was to try to resolve the dispute or to make the necessary arrangements for a duel.[1]
- A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.
- 1995, Boy Scouts of Canada. National Council, The Cub Book
- Many packs have a sixer's council where the sixers, and sometimes the seconds, meet with Akela and some of the other leaders.
- Synonym: seconder
- 1995, Boy Scouts of Canada. National Council, The Cub Book
- (informal) A second-class honours degree.
- 2004, William H. Cropper, Great Physicists (page 454)
- [Stephen Hawking] […] would go to Cambridge, he said, if they gave him a first, and stay at Oxford if they gave him a second. He got a first.
- 2004, William H. Cropper, Great Physicists (page 454)
Related terms[edit]
- (music): secundal (adj.)
Translations[edit]
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Verb[edit]
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. (See under #Etymology 3 for translations.)
- I second the motion.
- To follow in the next place; to succeed.
- 1655, Thomas Fuller, James Nichols, editor, The Church History of Britain, […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), new edition, London: […] [James Nichols] for Thomas Tegg and Son, […], published 1837, →OCLC:
- In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill.
- 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), 6th edition, London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC:
- Sin is usually seconded with sin.
- (climbing) To climb after a lead climber.
Translations[edit]
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Etymology 2[edit]
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)”).
Alternative forms[edit]
- (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[edit]
- enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛkənd
- Hyphenation: sec‧ond
Noun[edit]
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.
Synonyms[edit]
- (unit of angle): second of arc, arcsecond
- (short, indeterminate amount of time): (colloquial) sec
- Appendix:Words used as placeholders to count seconds
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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Etymology 3[edit]
From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundō (“assist, make favorable”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- Transfer temporarily
- enPR: səkŏnd', (UK) IPA(key): /səˈkɒnd/
- (General American) IPA(key): /səˈkɑnd/
- Rhymes: (UK) -ɒnd, (General American) -ɑnd
- Hyphenation: sec‧ond
- Assist, Agree
- enPR: sĕʹkənd, IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/, /ˈsɛk.(ə)nt/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɛkənd
- Hyphenation: sec‧ond
Verb[edit]
second (third-person singular simple present seconds, present participle seconding, simple past and past participle seconded)
- (transitive, UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
- The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.
- 1961 October, “Talking of Trains: Last of the M.S.W.J.R.”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 585-586:
- Things changed quickly from 1892 when Sam Fay was seconded from the L.S.W.R. as General Manager & Secretary.
- 1998, Paul Leonard, chapter 9, in Dreamstone Moon:
- 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.
- c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 91, column 1:
- Wee haue Supplyes, to ſecond our Attempt: […]
- 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle I, London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC, line 61, page 6:
- In human works, tho’ labour’d 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. (This may come from the English adjective above.)
- I second the motion.
- (transitive, music) To accompany by singing as the second performer.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
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Noun[edit]
second (plural seconds)
- One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
- 1820, Pierce Egan, Sporting Anecdotes, page 414:
- 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, page 201:
- 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, page 10:
- 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
- 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.
- (obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
- 1608, J. Fletcher, (Please provide the book title or journal name):
- Give second, and my love / Is everlasting thine.
Translations[edit]
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Further reading[edit]
arcsecond on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
second on Wikipedia.Wikipedia (time)
second (parliamentary procedure) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
second-hand goods on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Second in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
References[edit]
- second at OneLook Dictionary Search
Anagrams[edit]
French[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old French secunt, second, segont, borrowed as a semi-learned term from Latin secundus (“second”); related to sequi (“follow”). Doublet of son (“bran”), which was inherited.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
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← 1 | 2 | 3 → |
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Cardinal: deux Ordinal: deuxième, second Ordinal abbreviation: 2e, 2d, (nonstandard) 2ème Multiplier: double Fractional: demi, moitié | ||
French Wikipedia article on 2 |
second (feminine seconde, masculine plural seconds, feminine plural secondes)
- second
- une seconde possibilité ― a second possibility, another possibility
- 1863, Gautier, Fracasse:
- « Chiquita! Chiquita! » À la seconde appellation, une fillette maigre et hâve […] s'avança vers Agostin.
- "Chiquita! Chiquita!" At the second call, a thin and emaciated little girl […] came up to Agostin
Usage notes[edit]
For added "precision and elegance", the French Academy recommends using second when only two items are being considered, reserving deuxième for other situations, i.e. when more than two items are being considered;[1] although this rule is not mandatory.[1] The Academy however advises against ever replacing second with deuxième in fixed idioms such as de seconde main or seconde nature.[1]
Synonyms[edit]
- (ordinal): deuxième
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Noun[edit]
second m (plural seconds)
- assistant, first mate
- 1874, Gobineau, Pléiades:
- Je m'attachai aux pas de miss Harriet et lui servis de second dans le classement du linge.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
Derived terms[edit]
References[edit]
- “second”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams[edit]
Middle English[edit]
Adjective[edit]
second
- Alternative form of secunde (“after the first”)
Noun[edit]
second
- Alternative form of secunde (“after the first”)
Old French[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
second m (oblique and nominative feminine singular seconde)
Declension[edit]
Descendants[edit]
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sekʷ- (follow)
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English doublets
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛkənd
- Rhymes:English/ɛkənd/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English adverbs
- English uncomparable adverbs
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Music
- en:Baseball
- English informal terms
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- en:Climbing
- English terms derived from Medieval Latin
- English terms derived from Middle French
- Rhymes:English/ɒnd
- Rhymes:English/ɒnd/2 syllables
- Rhymes:English/ɑnd
- Rhymes:English/ɑnd/2 syllables
- British English
- English terms with obsolete senses
- English heteronyms
- English ordinal numbers
- en:SI units
- en:Scouting
- en:Time
- en:Two
- en:Sixty
- French terms inherited from Old French
- French terms derived from Old French
- French terms borrowed from Latin
- French terms derived from Latin
- French doublets
- French 2-syllable words
- French 1-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with audio links
- French lemmas
- French adjectives
- French terms with usage examples
- French terms with quotations
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French masculine nouns
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English adjectives
- Middle English nouns
- Old French terms borrowed from Latin
- Old French terms derived from Latin
- Old French terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old French lemmas
- Old French adjectives
- Old French ordinal numbers