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second

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛk.ənd/

The English word “second” has 20 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
  2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
  3. Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.

adverb

  1. After the first; at the second rank.
  2. After the first occurrence but before the third.

noun

  1. Something that is number two in a series.
  2. Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
  3. The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.
  4. A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
  5. An additional helping of food.
  6. A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)
  7. 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).
  8. The second gear of an engine.
  9. Second base.
  10. 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.
  11. A Cub Scout appointed to assist a sixer.
  12. A second-class honours degree.

verb

  1. To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See etymology 3 for translations.)
  2. To follow in the next place; to succeed.
  3. To climb after a lead climber.

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”)).

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.