Adjacent Words

Second definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SEC'OND, a. [L. secundus; L. sequor, to follow. See Seek.]
1. That immediately follows the first; the mext following the first in order of place or time; the ordinal of two. Take the second book from the shelf. Enter the second house.
And he slept and dreamed the second time. Gen. 41.
2. Next in value, power, excellence, dignity or rank; inferior. The silks of China are second to none. Lord Chatham was second to none in eloquence. Dr. Johnson was second to none in itellecual powers, but second to many in research and erudition.
Second terms, in algebra, those where the unknown quantity has a degree of power less than it has in the term where it is raised to the highest.
At second-hand, in the sicond place of order; not in first place, orby or from the first; by transmission; not primarily; not originally; as a report received at second hand.
In imitation of preachers at second hand, I shall transcribe from Bruyere a piece of raillery. Tatler.
SEC'OND, n.
1. One who attends another in a duel, to aid him, mark out the ground or destance, and see that all proceedings between the parties are fair.
2. One that supports or maintains another; that which supports
Being sure enough of seconds after the first onset. Wotton.
3. The sixtieth part of a minute or of a degree, that is, the second minute or small division next to the hour. Sound moves above 1140 English feet in a second.
4. In music, an interval of a conjoint degree, being the difference between any sound and the next nearest sound above ar below it.
SEC'OND, v. t. [L. secundo.]
1. To follow in the next place.
Sin is seconded with sin. [Little used.] South.
2. To support; to lend aid to the attempt of another; to assist' to forward; to promote; to encourage; to act as the maintainer.
We have supplies to second our attempt. Shak.
The attempts of Austria to circumscribe the conquests of Buonaparte, were seconded by Russia. Anon.
In God's, one single can its end produce,
Yet serves second too some other use. Pope.
3. In legislation, to support, as a motion or the mover. We say, to second a motion or proposition, or to second the mover.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude [syn: second, 2nd, 2d]
2: a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first; "second flute"; "the second violins" [ant: first] n
1: 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites [syn: second, sec, s]
2: an indefinitely short time; "wait just a moment"; "in a mo"; "it only takes a minute"; "in just a bit" [syn: moment, mo, minute, second, bit]
3: the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield [syn: second base, second]
4: a particular point in time; "the moment he arrived the party began" [syn: moment, minute, second, instant]
5: following the first in an ordering or series; "he came in a close second"
6: a 60th part of a minute of arc; "the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here" [syn: second, arcsecond]
7: the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
8: a speech seconding a motion; "do I hear a second?" [syn: second, secondment, endorsement, indorsement]
9: the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; "he had to shift down into second to make the hill" [syn: second gear, second]
10: merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name [syn: irregular, second] v
1: give support or one's approval to; "I'll second that motion"; "I can't back this plan"; "endorse a new project" [syn: second, back, endorse, indorse]
2: transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment; "The officer was seconded for duty overseas" adv
1: in the second place; "second, we must consider the economy" [syn: second, secondly]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French secund, from Latin secundus second, following, favorable, from sequi to follow — more at sue Date: 13th century 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> (2) inferior, subordinate <was second to none> c. ranking next below the top of a grade or degree in authority or precedence <second mate> d. alternate, other <elects a mayor every second year> 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 • second or secondly adverb II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. — see number table 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; specifically supertonic c. the harmonic combination of two tones a second apart 4. a. 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 7. second base 8. the second forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle 9. plural a second helping of food III. noun Etymology: 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 Date: 14th century 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 2. an instant of time ; moment IV. transitive verb Etymology: Latin secundare, from secundus second, favorable Date: circa 1586 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. chiefly British to release (as a military officer) from a regularly assigned position for temporary duty with another unit or organization • seconder noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n., adj., & v. --n. 1 the position in a sequence corresponding to that of the number 2 in the sequence 1-2. 2 something occupying this position. 3 the second person etc. in a race or competition. 4 Mus. a an interval or chord spanning two consecutive notes in the diatonic scale (e.g. C to D). b a note separated from another by this interval. 5 = second gear. 6 another person or thing in addition to one previously mentioned or considered (the policeman was then joined by a second). 7 (in pl.) a goods of a second or inferior quality. b coarse flour, or bread made from it. 8 (in pl.) colloq. a a second helping of food at a meal. b the second course of a meal. 9 an attendant assisting a combatant in a duel, boxing-match, etc. 10 a a place in the second class of an examination. b a person having this. --adj. 1 that is the second; next after first. 2 additional, further; other besides one previously mentioned or considered (ate a second cake). 3 subordinate in position or importance etc.; inferior. 4 Mus. performing a lower or subordinate part (second violins). 5 such as to be comparable to; closely reminiscent of (a second Callas). --v.tr. 1 supplement, support; back up. 2 formally support or endorse (a nomination or resolution etc., or its proposer). Phrases and idioms: at second hand by hearsay, not direct observation etc. in the second place as a second consideration etc. second advent a supposed return of Christ to earth. second ballot a deciding ballot between candidates coming first (without an absolute majority) and second in a previous ballot. second-best adj. next after best. --n. a less adequate or desirable alternative. second cause Logic a cause that is itself caused. second chamber the upper house of a bicameral parliament. second class the second-best group or category, esp. of hotel or train accommodation or (in the UK) of postal services. second-class adj. 1 of or belonging to the second class. 2 inferior in quality, status, etc. (second-class citizens). --adv. by second-class post, train, etc. (travelled second-class). second coming Theol. the second advent of Christ on earth. second cousin see COUSIN. second-degree Med. denoting burns that cause blistering but not permanent scars. second fiddle see FIDDLE. second floor 1 Brit. the floor two levels above the ground floor. 2 US the floor above the ground floor. second gear the second (and next to lowest) in a sequence of gears. second-generation denoting the offspring of a first generation, esp. of immigrants. second-guess colloq. 1 anticipate or predict by guesswork. 2 judge or criticize with hindsight. second honeymoon a holiday like a honeymoon, taken by a couple after some years of marriage. second in command the officer next in rank to the commanding or chief officer. second lieutenant an army officer next below lieutenant or US first lieutenant. second name a surname. second nature (often foll. by to) an acquired tendency that has become instinctive (is second nature to him). second officer an assistant mate on a merchant ship. second person Gram. see PERSON. second-rate of mediocre quality; inferior. second-rater a person or thing that is second-rate. second reading a second presentation of a bill to a legislative assembly, in the UK to approve its general principles and in the US to debate committee reports. second self a close friend or associate. second sight the supposed power of being able to perceive future or distant events. second-sighted having the gift of second sight. second string an alternative course of action, means of livelihood, etc., invoked if the main one is unsuccessful. second teeth the teeth that replace the milk teeth in a mammal. second thoughts a new opinion or resolution reached after further consideration. second to none surpassed by no other. second wind 1 recovery of the power of normal breathing during exercise after initial breathlessness. 2 renewed energy to continue an effort. Derivatives: seconder n. (esp. in sense 2 of v.). Etymology: ME f. OF f. L secundus f. sequi follow 2. n. 1 a sixtieth of a minute of time or angular distance. Usage: Symb.:'. 2 the SI unit of time, based on the natural periodicity of the caesium atom. Usage: Abbr.: s. 3 colloq. a very short time (wait a second). Phrases and idioms: second hand an extra hand in some watches and clocks, recording seconds. Etymology: F f. med.L secunda (minuta) secondary (minute) 3. v.tr. Brit. transfer (a military officer or other official or worker) temporarily to other employment or to another position. Derivatives: secondment n. Etymology: F en second in the second rank (of officers)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Second Sec"ond, a. [F., fr. L. secundus second, properly, following, fr. sequi to follow. See Sue to follow, and cf. Secund.] 1. Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; hence, occuring again; another; other. And he slept and dreamed the second time. --Gen. xli. 5. 2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior. May the day when we become the second people upon earth . . . be the day of our utter extirpation. --Landor. 3. Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a protype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! --Shak. Second Adventist. See Adventist. Second cousin, the child of a cousin. Second-cut file. See under File. Second distance (Art), that part of a picture between the foreground and the background; -- called also middle ground, or middle distance. [R.] Second estate (Eng.), the House of Peers. Second girl, a female house-servant who does the lighter work, as chamber work or waiting on table. Second intention. See under Intention. Second story, Story floor, in America, the second range of rooms from the street level. This, in England, is called the first floor, the one beneath being the ground floor. Second thought or thoughts, consideration of a matter following a first impulse or impression; reconsideration. On second thoughts, gentlemen, I don't wish you had known him. --Dickens.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Second Sec"ond, a. [F., fr. L. secundus second, properly, following, fr. sequi to follow. See Sue to follow, and cf. Secund.] 1. Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; hence, occuring again; another; other. And he slept and dreamed the second time. --Gen. xli. 5. 2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior. May the day when we become the second people upon earth . . . be the day of our utter extirpation. --Landor. 3. Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a protype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge. A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! --Shak. Second Adventist. See Adventist. Second cousin, the child of a cousin. Second-cut file. See under File. Second distance (Art), that part of a picture between the foreground and the background; -- called also middle ground, or middle distance. [R.] Second estate (Eng.), the House of Peers. Second girl, a female house-servant who does the lighter work, as chamber work or waiting on table. Second intention. See under Intention. Second story, Story floor, in America, the second range of rooms from the street level. This, in England, is called the first floor, the one beneath being the ground floor. Second thought or thoughts, consideration of a matter following a first impulse or impression; reconsideration. On second thoughts, gentlemen, I don't wish you had known him. --Dickens.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Second Sec"ond, n. 1. One who, or that which, follows, or comes after; one next and inferior in place, time, rank, importance, excellence, or power. Man an angel's second, nor his second long. --Young. 2. One who follows or attends another for his support and aid; a backer; an assistant; specifically, one who acts as another's aid in a duel. Being sure enough of seconds after the first onset. --Sir H. Wotton. 3. Aid; assistance; help. [Obs.] Give second, and my love Is everlasting thine. --J. Fletcher. 4. pl. An article of merchandise of a grade inferior to the best; esp., a coarse or inferior kind of flour. 5. [F. seconde. See Second, a.] The sixtieth part of a minute of time or of a minute of space, that is, the second regular subdivision of the degree; as, sound moves about 1,140 English feet in a second; five minutes and ten seconds north of this place. 6. In the duodecimal system of mensuration, the twelfth part of an inch or prime; a line. See Inch, and Prime, n., 8. 7. (Mus.) (a) The interval between any tone and the tone which is represented on the degree of the staff next above it. (b) The second part in a concerted piece; -- often popularly applied to the alto. Second hand, the hand which marks the seconds on the dial of a watch or a clock.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Second Sec"ond, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seconded; p. pr. & vb. n. Seconding.] [Cf. F. seconder, L. secundare, from secundus. See Second, a.] 1. To follow in the next place; to succeed; to alternate. [R.] In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill. --Fuller. Sin is seconded with sin. --South. 2. To follow or attend for the purpose of assisting; to support; to back; to act as the second of; to assist; to forward; to encourage. We have supplies to second our attempt. --Shak. In human works though labored 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. --Pope. 3. Specifically, to support, as a motion or proposal, by adding one's voice to that of the mover or proposer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

7. (Mach.) A joint or other connection uniting parts of machinery, or the like, as the elastic pipe of a tender connecting it with the feed pipe of a locomotive engine; especially, a pipe fitting for connecting pipes, or pipes and fittings, in such a way as to facilitate disconnection. 8. (Brewing) A cask suspended on trunnions, in which fermentation is carried on. Hypostatic union (Theol.) See under Hypostatic. Latin union. See under Latin. Legislative Union (Eng. Hist.), the union of Great Britain and Ireland, which took place Jan. 1, 1801. Union, or Act of Union (Eng. Hist.), the act by which Scotland was united to England, or by which the two kingdoms were incorporated into one, in 1707. Union by the first, or second, intention. (Surg.) See To heal by the first, or second, intention, under Intention. Union down (Naut.), a signal of distress at sea made by reversing the flag, or turning its union downward. Union jack. (Naut.) See Jack, n., 10. Union joint. (Mech.) (a) A joint formed by means of a union. (b) A piece of pipe made in the form of the letter T. Syn: Unity; junction; connection; concord; alliance; coalition; combination; confederacy. Usage: Union, Unity. Union is the act of bringing two or more things together so as to make but one, or the state of being united into one. Unity is a state of simple oneness, either of essence, as the unity of God, or of action, feeling, etc., as unity of design, of affection, etc. Thus, we may speak of effecting a union of interests which shall result in a unity of labor and interest in securing a given object. One kingdom, joy, and union without end. --Milton. [Man] is to . . . beget Like of his like, his image multiplied. In unity defective; which requires Collateral love, and dearest amity. --Milton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

I. PART OF A MINUTE (seconds) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. A second is one of the sixty parts that a minute is divided into. People often say 'a second' or 'seconds' when they simply mean a very short time. For a few seconds nobody said anything... It only takes forty seconds... Her orbital speed must be a few hundred meters per second... Within seconds the other soldiers began firing too... N-COUNT II. COMING AFTER SOMETHING ELSE (seconds, seconding seconded) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Please look at category 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. The second item in a series is the one that you count as number two. ...the second day of his visit to Delhi. ...their second child... My son just got married for the second time... She was the second of nine children. ...King Charles the Second... Britain came second in the Prix St Georges Derby. ORD 2. Second is used before superlative adjectives to indicate that there is only one thing better or larger than the thing you are referring to. The party is still the second strongest in Italy. ...the second-largest city in the United States. ORD: ORD adj-superl 3. You say second when you want to make a second point or give a second reason for something. The soil is depleted first by having crops grown in it and second by natural weathering and bacterial action. ADV: ADV cl 4. In Britain, an upper second is a good honours degree and a lower second is an average honours degree. I then went up to Lancaster University and got an upper second. N-COUNT 5. If you have seconds, you have a second helping of food. (INFORMAL) There's seconds if you want them. N-PLURAL 6. Seconds are goods that are sold cheaply in shops because they have slight faults. It's a new shop selling discounted lines and seconds. N-COUNT: usu pl 7. The seconds of someone who is taking part in a boxing match or chess tournament are the people who assist and encourage them. He shouted to his seconds, 'I did it! I did it!' N-COUNT: usu pl 8. If you second a proposal in a meeting or debate, you formally express your agreement with it so that it can then be discussed or voted on. ...Bryan Sutton, who seconded the motion against fox hunting... VERB: V n • seconder (seconders) Candidates need a proposer and seconder whose names are kept secret. N-COUNT 9. If you second what someone has said, you say that you agree with them or say the same thing yourself. The Prime Minister seconded the call for discipline in a speech last week. VERB: V n 10. If you experience something at second hand, you are told about it by other people rather than experiencing it yourself. Most of them had only heard of the massacre at second hand. PHRASE: PHR after v see also second-hand 11. If you say that something is second to none, you are emphasizing that it is very good indeed or the best that there is. Our scientific research is second to none. PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis] 12. If you say that something is second only to something else, you mean that only that thing is better or greater than it. As a major health risk hepatitis is second only to tobacco. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 13. second nature: see nature in the second place: see place III. SENDING SOMEONE TO DO A JOB (seconds, seconding, seconded) If you are seconded somewhere, you are sent there temporarily by your employer in order to do special duties. (BRIT) In 1937 he was seconded to the Royal Canadian Air Force in Ottawa as air armament adviser... Several hundred soldiers have been seconded to help farmers. VERB: usu passive, be V-ed prep/adv, be V-ed to-inf

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Next to the first (in place or in time). 2. Other. 3. Secondary, inferior. II. n. 1. Maintainer, supporter, helper, assistant, backer. 2. Sixtieth part of a minute. III. v. a. 1. Support, help, forward, assist, aid, promote, back, encourage, abet, further, advance, stand by, side with, take part with. 2. Approve, favor, support.

Moby Thesaurus

B, Janus-like, Maecenas, OK, abettor, abundant year, academic year, accept, accredit, acolyte, adjutant, admirer, advance, advocate, affirm, aficionado, agent, aid, aide, aide-de-camp, aider, alternate, alternative, ambidextrous, amen, angel, annum, another, apologist, approve, approve of, assign, assist, assistant, attendant, authenticate, authorize, autograph, auxiliary, back, back up, backer, best man, bifacial, bifold, biform, bilateral, binary, binate, biparous, bissextile year, bivalent, breath, buff, calendar month, calendar year, century, certify, champion, coadjutant, coadjutor, coadjutress, coadjutrix, common year, conduplicate, confirm, consecutive intervals, cosign, countersign, coup, crack, day, decade, decennary, decennium, defective, defective year, defender, degree, dependence, deputy, diapason, diatessaron, diatonic interval, diatonic semitone, disomatous, double, double-faced, dual, duple, duplex, duplicate, encourage, encourager, endorse, endorser, enharmonic diesis, enharmonic interval, espouse, executive officer, exponent, fan, favor, favorer, fifth, fiscal year, flash, following, fortnight, fourth, friend at court, geminate, geminated, get behind, get in behind, girl Friday, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the imprimatur, give thumbs up, go along with, half a jiffy, half a mo, half a second, half a shake, half step, halftone, help, helper, helpmate, helpmeet, hour, initial, instant, interval, irregular, jiff, jiffy, later, leap year, less semitone, lieutenant, lover, lunar month, lunar year, lunation, luster, lustrum, mainstay, maintainer, man Friday, man-hour, melodic interval, microsecond, millennium, millisecond, minute, moment, month, moon, move, newer, next, notarize, note, number two, octave, other, parallel octaves, paranymph, paraprofessional, partisan, pass, pass on, pass upon, patron, patronize, permit, promote, promoter, protagonist, quarter, quinquennium, ratify, regular year, reliance, relocate, right hand, rubber stamp, run interference for, sanction, say amen to, schlock, schmatte, seal, sec, second-best, secondarily, secondary, seconder, secondly, sectary, semester, semitone, servant, session, seventh, shake, shift, side with, sideman, sider, sidereal year, sign, sign and seal, sixth, solar year, split second, sponsor, stalwart, stand back of, stand behind, stand by, stand-in, standby, step, stick by, stick up for, stroke, subordinate, subscribe to, subsequent, substitute, sun, support, supporter, supporting actor, supporting instrumentalist, surrogate, sustainer, swear and affirm, swear to, sympathizer, take sides with, term, third, tick, tone, transfer, trice, trimester, twelvemonth, twin, twink, twinkle, twinkling, twinned, twitch, two shakes, two-faced, two-level, two-ply, two-sided, two-story, twofold, undersign, understudy, underwrite, unison interval, upholder, validate, visa, vise, votary, warrant, week, weekday, well-wisher, whole step, wink, year, younger