second
verb
- to support in a debate
- give support or approval
noun
- ordinal number for 2
- SI unit of time, defined as 9 192 631 770 periods of the ground-state hyperfine transitions of caesium-133
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L333787 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- ordinal number 2
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsɛk.ənd/ / /ˈsɛk.ɪnd/ / /səˈkɒnd/ / /səˈkɑnd/ / /ˈsɛk.(ə)nd/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English secunde, second, secound, secund, borrowed from Old French second, seond, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order”), from root of sequor (“to follow”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Doublet of secund and secundo. Displaced native twoth and partially displaced native other (from Old English ōþer (“other; next; second”)).
- 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".”
- Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
“His job is second priority, because his family is the most important thing in his life.”
“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.”
“A Daniel ſtill ſay I, a ſecond Daniel,[…]”
adv
Etymology: From Middle English secunde, second, secound, secund, borrowed from Old French second, seond, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order”), from root of sequor (“to follow”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”). Doublet of secund and secundo. Displaced native twoth and partially displaced native other (from Old English ōþer (“other; next; second”)).
- After the first; at the second rank.
“Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system.”
- After the first occurrence but before the third.
“He is batting second today.”
noun
Etymology: From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundō (“assist, make favorable”).
- One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
“The dogs however parted, and after a little handling by their seconds immediately returned to the charge”
“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”
- 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.”
- Aid; assistance; help.
“Give second, and my love / Is everlasting thine.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundō (“assist, make favorable”).
- To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
“The army officer was seconded while he held civil office.”
“Things changed quickly from 1892 when Sam Fay was seconded from the L.S.W.R. as General Manager & Secretary.”
- To assist or support; to back.
“Wee haue Supplyes, to ſecond our Attempt:[…]”
“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.”
- To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from etymology 1 above.)
“I second the motion.”
- To accompany by singing as the second performer.