seconded, seconds
- Meanings
- Synonyms
- Sentences
Any person, thing, class, place, etc. that is second.
The time needed for a cesium-133 atom to perform 9,192,631,770 complete oscillations.
The next after the first.
The ordinal number matching the number 2 in a series.
Coming next after the first in order of place or time; 2d or 2nd.
Another; other; additional; supplementary.
To take a second helping.
Repeating an initial instance.
Reminiscent of one that is well known.
A second George Washington; a second Waterloo.
Being of the same kind as another; resembling a given original.
To act as an aide or second to; aid; assist.
To indicate formally one's approval or support of (a motion, nomination, etc.) as a necessary preliminary to discussion of or a vote on it.
To give support or encouragement to; further; reinforce.
To attend (a duelist or a boxer) as an aide or assistant.
To transfer (a military officer) from regular service to special service, civil or military.
In the second place, rank, group, etc.
But for one other; save one.
Just before or just short of the last thing in a series.
After the first occurrence but before the third occurrence.
He is batting second today.
Other Word Forms of Second
Noun
Origin of Second
Middle English seconde from Old French from Medieval Latin (pars minūta) secunda second (small part) feminine of Latin secundus second, following second2
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Old French second, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order"), from root of sequor (“I follow"), from Proto-Indo-European *sekÊ·- (“to follow").
From Wiktionary
From Old French seconde, from Medieval Latin secunda, short for secunda pars minuta (“second diminished part (of the hour)")
From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin secundus sekw-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle French seconder, from Latin secundo (“assist, make favorable")
From Wiktionary
Second Is Also Mentioned In
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Word Length
Words Near Second in the Dictionary
1
a
: next to the first in place or time
was second in line
b(1)
: next to the first in value, excellence, or degree
his second choice of schools
c
: ranking next below the top of a grade or degree in authority or precedence
second mate
e
: resembling or suggesting a prototype : another
a second Thoreau
f
: being the forward gear or speed next higher than first in a motor vehicle
2
: relating to or having a part typically subordinate to and lower in pitch than the first part in concerted or ensemble music
1
b
: one that is next after the first in rank, position, authority, or precedence
the second in line
2
: one that assists or supports another
especially : the assistant of a duelist or boxer
3
a
: the musical interval embracing two diatonic degrees
b
: a tone at this interval
c
: the harmonic combination of two tones a second apart
4
a
seconds plural : merchandise that is usually slightly flawed and does not meet the manufacturer's standard for firsts or irregulars
b
: an article of such merchandise
5
: the act or declaration by which a parliamentary motion is seconded
6
: a place next below the first in a competition, examination, or contest
8
: the second forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
9
seconds plural : a second helping of food
1
: in the second place : secondly
These two kinds of image … have a powerful appeal for us, first, because we are all … inevitably concerned about our fate, and second, because our concern is itself twofold … Robert Penn Warren
2
: before all others with one exception
the nation's second largest city
They are my second favorite band.
1
a
: the 60th part of a minute of angular measure
b
: the 60th part of a minute of time : 1/86,400 part of the mean solar day
specifically : the base unit of time in the International System of Units that is equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom
transitive verb
1
a
: to give support or encouragement to : assist
b
: to support (a fighting person or group) in combat : bring up reinforcements for
2
a
: to support or assist in contention or debate
b
: to endorse (a motion or a nomination) so that debate or voting may begin
3
si-ˈkänd
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective We sat in the second row. the second house on the left B is the second letter in the alphabet. That's the second time I've seen him today. Chocolate is my first choice; vanilla is my second choice. The chair needs a second coat of paint. She plays second violin in the city orchestra. Verb I would like to second the motion to adjourn. “Let's call it a day.” “I'll second that.” See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French secund, from Latin secundus second, following, favorable, from sequi to follow — more at sue
Noun (2)
Middle English secounde, from Medieval Latin secunda, from Latin, feminine of secundus second; from its being the second sexagesimal division of a unit, as a minute is the first
Verb
Latin secundare, from secundus second, favorable
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of second was in the 13th century
Dictionary Entries Near second
Cite this Entry
“Second.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, //www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second. Accessed 24 Nov. 2022.
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