5 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
second
adj 1: coming next after the first in position in space or time or
degree or magnitude [syn: {2nd}, {2d}]
2: coming next after first; "a second chance"; "the second vice
president"
3: 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}]
4: having the second highest gear ratio; "second gear"
n 1: 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the
Systeme International d'Unites [syn: {sec}, {s}]
2: an indefinitely short time; "wait just a moment"; "it only
takes a minute"; "in just a bit" [syn: {moment}, {minute},
{bit}]
3: the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who
is stationed near 2nd base [syn: {second base}]
4: a particular point in time; "the moment he arrived the party
began" [syn: {moment}, {minute}, {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: {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: {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}]
10: merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a
reduced price without the brand name [syn: {irregular}]
adv : in the second place; "second, we must consider the economy"
[syn: {secondly}]
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: {back}, {endorse}, {indorse}]
2: transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment;
"The officer was seconded for duty overseas"