second

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