| 释义 |
▪ I. second, n.1|ˈsɛkənd|
Forms: 4, 6 seconde, 6– second.
[a. F. seconde, ad. med.L. secunda, fem. of L. secundus second a., used ellipt. for secunda minuta, lit. ‘second minute’, i.e. the result of the second operation of sexagesimal division; the result of the first such operation (now called ‘minute’ simply) being the ‘first’ or ‘prime minute’ or ‘prime’ (see prime n.2 2).
The med.L. secunda is also represented by G. sekunde, Du. secunde fem. (whence Sw. sekund masc., Da. sekund). Med.L. had a neut. secundum (cf. minūtum a minute), whence Sp., Pg. segundo, It. secondo.]
1. Geom. (Astr., Geog., etc.) A sixtieth part of a minute, 1/3600th part of a degree. See minute n.1 2, degree n. 9.
c1391Chaucer Astrol. i. §8 Thise degrees of signes ben euerich of hem considered of 60 Mynutes, & euery Minute of 60 secondes. 1599E. Wright Err. Navig. D 2, Let the meridian (diuided into degrees, minutes, seconds, &c.) roule vpon a streight line. 1713J. Ward Yng. Math. Guide (ed. 2) 350 Every Circle is suppos'd to be divided into 360..Degrees; every Degree is sub-divided into 60 Parts call'd Minutes; and every Minute into 60 Seconds, &c. 1870Proctor Other Worlds vii. 171 The star Alpha Centauri..exhibits..an annual parallax of one second.
2. a. In measurement of time: The sixtieth part of a minute, 1/3600th of an hour. Now one of the base units of the International System of Units, and scientifically defined in terms of the frequency of a spectral transition of an isotope of cæsium (see quot. 1968).
1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. g viij, Ye cowrse of ye sone, quhilk sence hes bene obserueit to be accompleseit in 365 dayes 5 houris 10 min: and 16 Secondis. 1695Congreve Love for Love iii. ix, At Ten a Clock, punctually at Ten. Sir Samp. To a Minute, to a Second; thou shalt set thy Watch, and the Bridegroom shall observe it's Motions. 1762[W. Young] Treat. Weights & Meas. 24 The pendulum which vibrates seconds at London, has been commonly esteemed 39,2 English inches. 1883R. S. Ball in Encycl. Brit. XV. 668 [In the C.G.S. system] the unit of length is the centimetre, the unit of mass is the gramme, and the unit of time is the second. 1955Sci. Amer. Mar. 52/2 Accordingly the International Committee is to define the second as: 1/31,556,925·975 of the tropical year 1900. 1968Nature 16 Nov. 651/1 The basic unit of time in the International System of Units, formerly identical with the astronomical second of ephemeris time, is now based on a natural periodicity of the caesium atom and is defined in the following terms: ‘the second is 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 caesium-133 atom’. 1975Oxf. Compan. Sports & Games 975/1 This reduced the previous world records by half a second, the biggest single advance in the history of the events.
b. Used vaguely for an extremely short time, an ‘instant’.
1825Scott Betrothed iv, A momentum of speed which increased with every second. 1897Daily News 14 June 5/7 There was a second's panic in the crowd. 1906C. Mansfield Girl & Gods xii, Do you mind if I slip away for just two seconds and take off this frock?
3. attrib. and Comb., as second-foot, a unit of the rate of flow of water, equal to one cubic foot per second; second- (seconds-) hand, a hand or pointer of a timepiece indicating seconds; second- (seconds-) mark Math., the character {pp}, denoting a second or seconds (either of angle or of time); second- (seconds-) pendulum, a pendulum of a timepiece vibrating seconds; second pivot (see quot.); † second- (seconds-) watch, a timepiece indicating seconds.
1898U.S. Dept. Agric. Yearbk. 1897 640 Where water is abundant, the duty has been known to be as low as 50 acres..to the *second-foot. 1914Ries & Watson Engin. Geol. v. 250 The height of the black lines illustrates the relative quantity of water expressed in cubic feet per second, or second feet, occurring throughout the year. 1928Manch. Guardian Weekly 31 Aug. 178/3 The assumption is that the main river, suitably fortified with levees, can carry rather less than 2,000,000 cubic feet of water per second (or 2,000,000 second feet as it is briefly described).
1759Pringle in Phil. Trans. LI. 250 Upon looking at a watch, which had a *second-hand,..he stopped me when I had counted 13 seconds. c1850Rudim. Nav. (Weale) 41 Your watch..should be furnished with a seconds-hand. 1888Ld. Grimthorpe in Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 398/1 In the chronograph watch there is, in addition to the centre seconds-hand, an independent seconds-hand which, when not in operation, stands at zero.
1888Jacobi Printers' Voc., *Seconds mark.
1763Murdoch in Phil. Trans. LIV. 31 A *second-pendulum at the equator would be 39·154 inches long. 1837Whewell Hist. Induct. Sci. (1857) II. 221 Determining the length of the seconds' pendulum in different latitudes.
1884F. J. Britten Watch & Clockm. Handbk. 233 [The] *Seconds Pivot..[is] the prolongation of the fourth wheel arbor to which the seconds hand of a watch is fixed.
1754Smeaton in Phil. Trans. XLVIII. 537 A third observed, by a *seconds-watch, the time taken up in running these 357 feet. 1763Short ibid. LIII. 329 Each observer had a Second-watch in his hand.
▪ II. second, a. and n.2|ˈsɛkənd|
Forms: 3–7 secund(e, 4–5 secounde, 4, 6 seconde, 4–6 secound, 5 secownde, seycond, 6 Sc. secunnd, sycond, 4– second.
[a. F. second = Pr. segon, Sp., Pg. segundo, It. secondo, ad. L. secundus following (hence favourable, prosperous, primarily of a breeze), next, second, f. root of sequī to follow.
OE. had no proper ordinal for the number two (like G. zweite, Du. tweede, F. deuxième), the sense being expressed by óðer (see other a.); this being ambiguous, the Fr. word found early acceptance.]
A. adj.
1. a. Coming next after the first according to any contextually understood principle of enumeration (e.g. in order of time, position, rank, quality, conventional or arbitrarily adopted sequence): the ordinal corresponding to the cardinal two.
(a) with n. expressed; also predicatively.
1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5724 In þe secunde ȝere þat he verst bissop was. 1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne i. 9787 The secunde sacrament, y vndyrstonde, Ys graunted of þe bysshop honde. c1386Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 139 Euery secounde or þridde day sche faste. c1440Jacob's Well 46 Here brekyst þou þe secunde tyme þe x. comaundementes. 1507Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. III. 290 The secund day of Maii. 1549Compl. Scot., Epist. Q. Grace 6 Numa pompilius, the sycond kyng of rome. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. i. ii. 183 The first and second cause will not serue my turne. a1674Clarendon Hist. Reb. xi. §151 The Convertine, a ship of the second rank. 1700Dryden Sigism. & Guisc. 35 Youth, Health, and Ease, and most an amorous Mind, To second Nuptials had her Thoughts inclin'd. 1872FitzGerald Omar (ed. 3) lv, You know, my Friends, with what a brave Carouse I made a Second Marriage in my house. 1884Ld. Brabourne Lett. Jane Austen I. v. 87 Jane's picture of a clergyman is generally that of a second son who enters the profession in order to hold a family living.
(b) with ellipsis of n. understood from the context.
a1300X Commandm. 25 in E.E.P. (1862) 16 Þe secunde [commandment] so is þis, sundai wel þat ȝe holde. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 23 In Bretayn, beeþ many wondres... Þe firste is at Pectoun... Þe secounde is at Stonhenge by sides Salisbury. c1470Henry Wallace vii. 111 The fyrst writtyng was gross letteris of bras, The secound gold, the thrid was siluir scheyne. 1636Heywood Challenge Beauty iv. Wks. 1874 V. 50 If you Would add a second to this curtesie. 1748Richardson Clarissa IV. 201, I liked her at first sight, and better at second. 1814Cary Dante, Inf. xviii. 38 Ah! how they made them bound at the first stripe! None for the second waited, nor the third. 1858Chamb. Jrnl. 20 Nov. 334/1 In the first of which objects, by the way, they have succeeded much better than in the second.
b. the second: appended to a personal name to designate the second bearer of the name in a succession of persons (chiefly sovereigns, or persons jocularly likened to sovereigns). Also (now rarely) used to designate one resembling the person to whom the name belongs (cf. 4 below).
c1386Chaucer Man of Law's T. 261 O Sowdanesse, roote of iniquitee, Virago, thou Semyrame the secounde. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. III. 4 Henrie the secund rang into his steid, The emprice sone. 1558W. Forrest (title) Grisild the Second. [Meaning Kath. of Aragon.] 1735Johnson Lobo's Abyssinia, Descr. i. 44 In the Reign of King John the Second. 1886C. E. Pascoe London of To-day xviii. (ed. 3) 165 ‘Dick’ Tattersall, or Richard the Second, the grandson of the founder. 1891Smiles Publisher & Friends I. 29 John Murray the Second—the ‘Anak of Publishers’, according to Lord Byron.
c. Gram. In second person: see person n. 8. Also in second declension, second conjugation, and in names of tenses, as second aorist, second future, second perfect, where the reference is to a conventional order of enumeration adopted by grammarians.
By modern grammarians this method of designation has been almost entirely abandoned as regards tenses, and to a great extent as regards declensions and conjugations, descriptive terms being substituted for numerical.
1530Palsgr. Introd. 31 Of the seconde conjugation. c1532G. Du Wes Introd. Fr. in Palsgr. 1011 The Seconde Future. I shuld knele. 1580Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Thirdly, the second perfect, j'ay aimé, I haue loued. a1637B. Jonson Eng. Gram. xiv. (1640) 60 The second Declension formeth the Plurall from the Singular, by putting to n. Ibid. xviii. 63 The second Conjugation. 1875T. K. Arnold Henry's First Lat. Bk. 14 Verbs whose infinitive ends in ēre, are of the second conjugation.
d. absol. The person or thing that has been mentioned in the second place. So in Heraldry (see quot. 1868).
1572J. Bossewell Armorie 114 b, He beareth Argent, a fesse Gules, betwene three Eaglettes Sable, membred and beaked of the second. 1868Cussans Her. xi. (1893) 158 A tincture must never be mentioned twice in the same Blazon: should it occur again, it must be expressed as of the first (or field), of the second, of the last, &c., as the case may be.
2. a. Next in rank, quality, importance, or degree of any attribute, to (a person or thing regarded as first). Hence, in negative and limiting contexts, Inferior (to none, only to{ddd}). [Cf. L. nulli secundus.]
c1374Chaucer Troylus v. 836 Troylus was neuere vn-to no wight As in his tyme in no degre secounde. 1590Shakes. Com. Err. v. i. 7 Of very reuerent reputation sir,..Second to none that liues heere in the Citie. 1593― 2 Hen. VI, i. ii. 43 Nay Elinor, then must I chide outright, Presumptuous Dame, ill-nurter'd Elianor, Art thou not second Woman in the Realme? 1667Milton P.L. iii. 409 Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee sat Second to thee, offerd himself to die For mans offence. 1754Gray Poesy 95 Nor second He, that rode sublime Upon the seraph-wings of Extasy, The secrets of th' Abyss to spy. 1821Canning Sp. 2 Apr. (1828) IV. 306 Among the names he had missed one, now no more, never second in the zeal of his resistance. 1860Tennent Story Guns (1864) 233 In the search for improvement failures have a value second only to success. 1861Geo. Eliot Let. 17 May (1954) III. 414, I doing little else but feel eminently uncomfortable, for which..I have a faculty ‘second to none’. 1872Yeats Growth Comm. 49 Miletus was scarcely second to Tyre in luxury and wealth. 1961J. Heller Catch-22 (1962) xi. 112 He would stand second to none in his devotion to country.
b. With following superlative: Having only one superior in the specified attribute. Cf. second-best.
1533Test. Ebor. (Surtees) VI. 41 My secunde gretest braspotte. 1880, etc. Second last [see last a. 1 b]. 1910W. M. Raine Bucky O'Connor (1920) xx. 226 I'll agree to the second dearest in the world. 1959J. Kirkup tr. S. de Beauvoir's Memoirs of Dutiful Daughter ii. 116 She was..the second eldest daughter. 1977Word 1972 XXVIII. 104 The second-youngest of the fluent speakers. 1979Nature 15 Feb. 561/2 Secernosaurus is the second most primitive hadrosaur known.
c. In designations of office, denoting the lower of two, or the next to the highest of several persons holding the same office; e.g. second captain, second lieutenant (see quots.), second lord (of the Admiralty, etc.), second master, second mistress (in a school), second mate (also in naut. slang phrases referring to measures of liquor), second officer (in a merchant ship).
The Fr. expression en second (quot. 1702) occurs sometimes in Eng. official use in the 18th c.; ‘officers en second’ are mentioned, e.g. in the London Gazette 1716–20. Cf. second v.2
1702Milit. Dict. (1704), Second Captain, or Lieutenant en Second, one whose Company has been broke, and he is joyn'd to another, to act and serve under the Captain or Lieutenant of it... There are also Second Captains and Lieutenants of the First Creation, that is, who were never so in the other Companies... Second Lieutenants are much us'd among the Foot in France. 1709Lond. Gaz. No. 4543/2 The second Lieutenant, and Mr. Lawrence,..were shot through the Body. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 36/1 Second Lieutenant in the Artillery, is the same as an ensign in an infantry regiment,..and must assist the first lieutenant in the detail of the company's duty. 1843J. F. Cooper Ned Myers II. ii. 61 Putting a second⁓mate's nip of brandy into my glass. 1853‘C. Bede’ Adv. Mr. Verdant Green i. 6 The second master..‘licked a feller’ for a false quantity. 1866School Life at Winchester Coll. xiv. 177 The Roll which was published every November, giving a list of the entire establishment of the College, commencing with the Warden, Head master, (Informator,) Second master, (Hostiarius,) the ten fellows, three chaplains; the under masters [etc.]. 1923L. Magnus Jubilee Bk. Girls' Public Day School Trust iv. 58 Her retirement coincided with that of her Second Mistress, Mrs. Withiel. 1933P. A. Eaddy Hull Down 99 He pulls a pint bottle out of the case, and drawing the cork pulls out a good Second Mate's four fingers. 1952V. Noake Hist. Alice Ottley School Worcester xiii. 140 Miss Spurling's successor..was Miss Hilda M. Roden, second mistress of the Stamford High School, Stamford, Lincs. 1967S. Waters Indentures Indorsed xxxv. 232 A couple of second mate's pegs was usually enough to set us all singing. 1976C. Dexter Last seen Wearing xxx. 211 School masters, even experienced second masters, aren't all that highly recompensed.
d. Mil. second in command: holding a position only subordinate to the chief commander of an army or one of its subdivisions. Often absol. (quasi-n.).
1776W. Howe Let. 7 June in 9th Rep. R. Comm. Hist. MSS. App. iii. (rev. ed.) 35 in Parl. Papers 1910 (Cd. 5038) XXXV. 675 The seniority of his rank..would have placed him second in command in Canada had he not been previously employed to the southward. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. II. iv. iii, Poor Commandant Gouvion, watching at the Tuileries, second in National command, sees several things hard to interpret. 1882Manch. Guard. 6 Sept. 5 Baker Pasha will be appointed second in command and ‘adjoint’ of the Turkish Commander in-Chief. 1939C. S. Forester Captain Hornblower, R.N. xvi. 173 On his first commission his second-in-command had taken advantages of lapses on his part. 1982Observer 16 Apr. 14/6 His second-in-command is a Sierra Leonean major.
e. Mus. Used to distinguish the next to the highest part in a piece of concerted music. Hence of a voice or instrument: Rendering such a part.
1724Short Explic. For. Wds. in Mus. Bks., Violino Secondo, the Second Violin. 1746Tansur New Mus. Gram. 131 If you would set a Second Treble, or Cantus, Medius, or Counter, to any Piece of Musick that was before in Two Parts, to make Three Parts; let it begin from the Bass on some different Cord from the Tenor [etc.]. 1769Second voice [see contralto 2]. 1836Hickson Singing Master i. Pref. 4 The second parts will always be sung with most effect by boys between the ages of twelve and fourteen. 1885W. S. Gilbert Mikado i. 15 Assuming the disguise of a Second Trombone, I joined the band in which you found me.
3. Having the degree of quality, fineness, etc. next to the best; of the second grade or class. Now only Comm. in certain customary uses.
In some applications there is also the notion of being produced by a second operation, after the best has been already obtained.
c1440Pallad. on Husb. xii. 482 And aftir oil secounde Is maad, that on a sadder mylle is grounde. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 184 The fragments of the Coame..heated and strained againe, doe make a seconde Hony. 1618in Archæologia XLIV. 411 Item for second bread 2 0 0. 1638Penkethman Artach. D 4, When the second wheate (which is the Red being in meale) is sold for iiii l. the Quarter in the market. 1799in Spirit Publ. Jrnls. III. 14 My coat..made of good second cloth. 1842J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 124 We used to have a certain description of cloth for livery purposes, called second cloth, made of English wool. 1856Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. XVII. ii. 483 Each cow gives about 1 lb. per week of ‘second butter’, fetching 2d. per lb. less than the best. 1860Newlands Carp. & Joiner's Assist. Gloss., Second Bricks, bricks of a quality next to the finest mail stocks or cutters.
4. a. Other, another; additional to that which has already existed, taken place, been mentioned, etc. Often qualifying a proper name, to designate one who equals or closely resembles the bearer of the name.
c1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxvi. (Nycholas) 1068 He tuk þe secund coupe in hand, & one þe altare fore offerand It set. 1500–20Dunbar Poems vii. 17 Welcum in were the secund Iulius, The prince of knightheyd, and flour of cheualry. 1558W. Forrest Grisild the Second (Roxb.) 30 A famous kynge [Hen. VII]..Called (in his tyme) the Seconde Salomon. 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 62 And therewith her eyes distilled such abundance of teares, as..made her seeme a more than second Niobe. c1600Shakes. Sonn. lix, If their bee nothing new, but that which is, Hath beene before, how are our braines beguild, Which laboring for inuention beare amisse The second burthen of a former child? 1784Rolliad viii. (1795) 49 Vansittart, thou, A second Hastings, if the Fates allow. 1805Scott Let. in Lockhart (1837) II. ii. 59 Could any one bear the story of a second city being taken by a wooden horse? 1850F. Madden Wycliffite Bible List of MSS. No. 28, The Ms...has been corrected throughout by a second, but nearly contemporary scribe.
b. Proverb: habit (or usage) is second nature. Hence (without allusion to the proverb) to be (come as, etc.) second nature (to one): to be as if natural or instinctive. Occas. in ellipt. constructions without a vb.
The L. form, consuetudo est altera (or secunda) natura, is found in St. Augustine and Macrobius, and approximately in Cicero (see Lewis & Short s.v. Natura); the notion occurs in Aristotle (e.g. Probl. iv. xxvi, Eth. N. vii. x) and other Greek writers.
1390Gower Conf. III. 23 For in Phisique this I finde, Usage is the seconde kinde. 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 89 That habit being as it were converted into a second nature. a1729J. Rogers Nineteen Serm. xii. (1735) 254 Habits which..are become a kind of second Nature to him. 1821Scott Kenilw. xxxii, Those to whom long practice has rendered them [sc. frivolous fopperies] a second nature. 1910S. E. White in Sunset Apr. 421/1 Bob..rolled over twice with the rapid, vigorous twist second-nature to a seasoned half-back. 1944Sun (Baltimore) 28 Nov. 8/2 Civilian air defense comes as second nature to them. 1954T. S. Eliot Confidential Clerk iii. 96, I do feel more at ease when I'm behind a desk: It's second nature. 1967Singha & Massey Indian Dances xviii. 159 They become second nature to her when she is dancing.
c. second self: a friend who agrees absolutely with one's tastes and opinions, or for whose welfare one cares as much as for one's own.
After L. alter idem, Gr. ἄλλος αὐτός and ἔτερος αὐτός (Arist. Eth. N. ix).
1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1594) i. 141 The mightie and inviolable bond of friendship, as of a second-selfe did constraine him to lend his eare to his friend. 1665R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales (1901) 93, I will offer to your choice two things, wherein please your self, and you shall please me who am your second self. 1778F. Burney Evelina xxvi, As to Miss Mirvan, she is my second self, and neither hopes nor fears but as I do. 1851Lytton Not so bad i. i. 6 Ha, Softhead! my Pylades—my second self!
transf.c1600Shakes. Sonn. lxxiii. 8 Blacke night..Deaths second selfe that seals vp all in rest.
†5. ‘Helpful, lending assistance’ (Schmidt). Obs.
1611Shakes. Wint. T. ii. iii. 27 Nay rather (good my Lords) be second to me.
6. a. quasi-adv. Secondly, in the second place (rare); as the second in succession. Also, † for the second time.
1382Wyclif Gen. xxvii. 36 The riȝtis of my fyrst geting biforn he took a wey, and now secounde he hath vnder rauyshide my benysoun. 1536Cranmer in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. III. 25 Seconde,..I shewed the people that this thynge ought no thynge to move theym, for it was [etc.]. 1842Whitehead R. Savage (1845) II. vii. 271, I was confounded first, and incensed second. a1859De Quincey Posth. Wks. (1891) I. 55 First, it was not to be too complete; second, even for this incompleteness it was not to be concentrated within a short time. Mod. Mr. A. opened the debate. Mr. B. spoke second.
b. ellipt. for second class (in travelling by rail, etc.).
1912R. Brooke Let. Jan. (1968) 334 The maids of the Ordinary Rich go second, with you and the normal me. 1937W. H. Saumarez Smith Let. 10 July in Young Man's Country (1977) ii. 80 As I'm not getting Travel Allowance for this trip, I'd decided to travel 2nd. a1976A. Christie Autobiogr. (1977) vi. i. 289 Ladies travelling alone would never have travelled third class... Even ladies' maids always travelled second.
7. Combinations.
a. In syntactical combs. of a permanent nature or with special meaning (many of which are also used attrib. or as adj., and are then written with hyphen), as second cause, childhood, coming, course, cousin, death, † deliverance, empire, fiddle, fluxion, generation, house, intention, inversion, language, movable, notion, opinion, order, power, reading, secretary, sex, slip, story, string, subject, table, thought(s, vote, water, wind, year (see these words); second Adam, man Theol., titles given to Christ with ref. to 1 Cor. xv. 45, 47; second advent Theol., the expected Second Coming of Christ as Judge (see Advent 2); hence second adventist = premillenarian n.; second ballot, a deciding ballot taken between the candidate who won a previous ballot without securing an absolute majority and the candidate with the next highest number of votes; also attrib. of an electoral system using this; second banana slang (orig. U.S.), a supporting comedian (cf. top banana s.v. top n.1 34); second base (see base n.1 15 c); second birth, (a) Theol. = regeneration 2; † (b) = secundine 1; † (c) the entrance upon a new life after death; second blessing orig. U.S., an experience of God's grace subsequent to conversion, believed by some Christian groups to be the means of receiving the power to live a sanctified life; second bottom, (a) U.S., the first terrace above the normal flood plain of a stream; (b) Austral. , a second stratum of gold-bearing material found by sinking below the bottom (bottom n. 4 c); second breakfast, a light meal taken late in the morning or early in the afternoon; second business (see quot.); second car, an additional family car; second chamber, in a legislature consisting of two chambers, the one which has chiefly the function of revising the measures prepared and passed by other; also attrib.; second channel Radio = image n. 9; usu. attrib.; second chop (see chop n.5 4); second cut a., (a) (see quot. 1846); (b) Austral. and N.Z., (the mark of) a blow made to remove badly-cut fleece; a piece of short or inferior wool produced by this; † second day, in Quaker usage, Monday; second-degree Med., used to designate burns that are sufficiently severe to cause blistering but not permanent scarring (see quot. 1972); see also degree n. 6 d; second division Civil Service, the lower grade of government clerks, admitted by a competitive examination of more limited range than that prescribed for the higher division; second feature, the supporting feature in a cinema programme; also fig. and attrib.; second finger, the finger next to the forefinger, the middle finger; second floor, the floor or storey of a building next but one above the ground-floor; also attrib.; second front, in the war of 1939–45, a front in Nazi-occupied Europe in addition to the Russian sector of fighting; also fig. and attrib.; second fronting Philol. [tr. G. zweite Aufhellung (K. Luick Historische Grammatik der englischen Sprache (1914) 164)], a sound-change in varieties of Old English by which the vowels æ (produced by an earlier fronting) and a became e and æ respectively; second gear, the gear next above the lowest or bottom gear on a motor vehicle or bicycle; second girl U.S., an under-housemaid; second greaser Naut. slang, a second mate; † second ground Painting, the middle distance (see middle a. 6); second growth, (a) a crop of vegetation replacing one previously destroyed; also attrib.; (b) the second category of growths (see growth1 1 d) or qualities into which wines are divided; also attrib.; second guard, an additional guard on a sword hilt; second head Venery (see quots. and cf. head n.1 6 b); also allusively; second home, a second dwelling-place owned or supported in addition to the principal home; a home from home; also fig. and attrib.; hence second homer, the owner of a second home; second horse (see quot. 1827); also attrib.; † second infancy, second childhood (see childhood 4); † second inquest Law, a petty jury; Second Isaiah = Deutero-Isaiah s.v. deutero-; second line Mil. (see quot. 1876); also attrib.; also gen., any second row or series; freq. attrib. or as adj., esp. designating persons or things that rank second in ability, value, etc.; hence second-liner, -lining vbl. n.; second man: see second Adam above; secondman, an assistant driver on a diesel or electric train, replacing the fireman on a steam train; second messenger Physiol., a substance whose release within a cell is promoted by a hormone or ‘first messenger’, and which brings about a response by the cell; † second minute (see minute n.1 and cf. prime n.2 and etymological note to n.1 above); second moment Math. (see quot.); second mortgage, a supplementary or puisne mortgage; † second (motion) shaft = layshaft; † second mourning, a style of dress allowed by etiquette to be worn when strict mourning is discarded; also attrib.; † second nobles, the lower nobility or gentry; second person (of the Trinity) Theol., the Son (see person n. 7); second price, a charge lower than the highest for seats in a play-house; second ranker, a member of the second rank, a second-liner; second row Rugby Football, the middle row of a team's pack; also attrib.; hence second rower Austral., a second-row forward; second scent (nonce-use, after second sight: cf. quot.); second seer, one who practises second sight; second service, the Communion Service of the Church of England, as following Morning Prayer; (see also quot. 1844); second shaft: see second (motion) shaft above; second sound Physics, a form of longitudinal wave which has many properties in common with sound and is observed in superfluid helium (see quots. and cf. sound n.3); second speed = second gear; † second stature, ? medium height; † second stop Cricket = long-stop s.v. long a.1 A. 18 d; second-stor(e)y man N. Amer. Criminals' slang, a cat-burglar; second strike, a second, retaliatory attack conducted with weapons designed to withstand an initial nuclear attack or first strike; freq. attrib.; second table, the servants' table at a meal; also spec. the senior of two servants' tables; second tap Engin. (see quot. 1888); second thigh, the part of the rear leg of a quadruped that corresponds to the human calf; Second War, short for Second World War; Second World [after Third World], (a) (following the outlook of the Chinese leadership) the developed countries apart from the two ‘superpowers’; (b) (poss. reflecting the orig. implication of the term Third World) the Communist bloc; Second World War, the war which began with the German invasion of Poland on 1 Sept. 1939 and ultimately involved the majority of the nations of the world; hostilities ceased in Europe on 7 May 1945 and in the Far East on 12 Sept. 1945. Also second best, second-class, second hand, second-rate, second sight.
1587Bible (Genevan) 1 Cor. xv. 45 (marginal gloss), To wit, with the Spirit of God, which descendeth from Christ the *second Adam, into us. 1655J. Taylor Unum Necessarium vi. 362 Receiving more by the second Adam than we did lose by the first. 1667Milton P.L. x. 383 The Tempter set Our second Adam in the Wilderness, To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory. 1739C. Wesley Hymn, ‘Hark how all the Welkin rings’ ix, Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in thy Love.
1736Gentl. Mag VI. 347/2 But all,..who hope And love his *second advent, will receive The same reward.
1910Rep. R. Comm. Electoral Syst. 3 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 5163) XXVI. 295 The *Second Ballot.—A candidate, to be returned at the first election must receive an absolute majority of the valid votes cast. If no candidate obtains such a majority, a second election is held, at which (in the most usual form of the system) only the two candidates compete who received most votes at the first election. 1932News Chron. 15 Mar. 9/1 The electorate, at the second ballot, were left to choose between Hindenburg, Marx and Thaelmann. 1954B. & R. North tr. M. Duverger's Pol. Parties ii. i. 239 There were variations of procedure in the simple-majority second-ballot system. 1976Second ballot [see preferential a. c].
1953N.Y. Times 24 May ii. 11/2 In television and radio, Mr. Carney has played *second banana to many star comedy performers. 1974Ibid. 28 Dec. 26/1 He [sc. Jack Benny] was often the butt of his second bananas, who devastated him with their barbs. 1977Time 13 June 42/2 Their Yank allies, doubtless because they had second-banana roles in the original production 33 years ago, have dim, brief lives on the screen.
1513Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 2935 By the *seconde byrthe..we haue regeneracyon. 1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 39 And then secondlye, [issueth] the foresayd after birth: & therefore it may be iustly called ye second byrth or secondyne. 1643Digby Observ. Relig. Med. 102 Assoone as Death hath played the Midwife to our second birth, our Soule shall then [etc.]. 1749C. Wesley Hymn, ‘Father, Son and Holy Ghost, In Solemn Power’ i, Plunge Her by a Second Birth Into the Depths of God.
1891B. Carradine Sanctification ii. 14 My soul was reaching out..for..what is properly called the *second blessing. Ibid. iv. 33 This definition and explanation of entire sanctification, or the second blessing. 1940Amer. Sociol. Rev. Oct. 741 The Pentecostal groups..believe further in the gift of tongues as an additional evidence of God's grace, awakened..by the ‘second blessing’. 1977Christian IV. 204 The call to Community has something of the aura of the conversion experience, or perhaps even more of the so called ‘second blessing’.
1787J. Mathews Jrnl. 23 Aug. in S. P. Hildreth Pioneer Hist. (1848) vii. 184 Went to view the Indian works, which are about a mile from the fort. They extend for about half a mile on the *second bottom. 1788Massachusetts Spy 19 June 3/2 Next to these are what is called second bottoms, which are elevated plains, and gentle risings of the richest uplands. 1855R. Caldwell Gold Era of Victoria x. 116 As regards the question of ‘second bottoms’, which has excited considerable discussion,.. all such attempts must..end in disappointment and loss to those engaged in them. 1863J. C. Paterson Gold Fields of Victoria 1862 vii. 80 There is no known reason why there should not be a second bottom on Bendigo Flat. 1905Chamberlin & Salisbury Geol. iii. 195 (caption) Diagram illustrating a distinct terrace and a ‘second bottom’.., which may be regarded as a low terrace. 1924Prof. Papers U.S. Geol. Survey No. 126. 14/1 Bluffs 30 to 50 feet in height separate the flats of the gravel-covered terraces from the second bottoms.
1775J. Woodforde Diary 2 Jan. (1924) I. 144 We stayed at Whitney and made a *second breakfast, we treated the maid at Whitney. 1802M. Nugent Jrnl. 15 Jan. (1907) ii. 72 Had fruit for the children at 10; then second breakfast a little after 11.—Dined at 3. 1967O. Hesky Time for Treason xi. 83 Barzilai..was regretting that he hadn't utilised this period..by having a ‘second breakfast’, a habit dear to the stomachs of those raised in certain parts of Europe.
1823Ann. Reg. 214* By the phrase *second business is meant that sort of business in which the lead is given to the counsel who are not yet arrived at the dignity of a silk gown.
1966Guardian 16 May 5/3 We had been trying to choose an inexpensive ‘*second car’ for my wife. 1981L. Stephan Murder or Not xi. 87 The Subaru was a second car, used by Mr Cook to commute to his job.
1828J. S. Mill in Westm. Rev. Apr. 282 In whichever way selected, this *second chamber would have been..inveterately hostile to nearly every necessary reform. 1861― Repr. Govt. xiii. 231, I set little value on any check which a Second Chamber can apply to a democracy otherwise unchecked.
1932C. L. Boltz Everyman's Wireless xv. 309 If the tuning circuit..is not sufficiently selective it is possible to receive..a signal whose frequency differs from that of the oscillator by the fixed intermediate frequency, but in the opposite direction... Such interference..is sometimes called ‘*second channel’ interference. 1940,1962[see image n. 9]. 1975G. N. Patchett Radio Servicing III. ii. 11 It is essential to remove the second channel station before it reaches the frequency-changer or mixer.
1846Holtzapffel Turning 820 Double cut files..are thus respectively named by the Lancashire..makers:—1. Rough. 2. Middle-cut. 3. Bastard. 4. *Second-cut. 5. Smooth. 6. Superfine. 1882Armstrong & Campbell Austral. Sheep Husbandry xiv. 168 In shearing the first side of the sheep, each blow should be continued round until the back-bone is passed; this avoids the second cut caused by the blow up the back which should not be allowed, as the ‘cutting through’ which results considerably depreciates the value of the wool. 1897D. McK. Wright Station Ballads 34 Mighty lot of wool you've lost! Second cuts? Well, that ain't my fault, you've his wrinkled hide to thank. 1900,1929[see fribby a. (n.)]. 1950N.Z. Jrnl. Agric. Oct. 311 An efficient shearer will not make many ‘second cuts’, but the presence of them among the fleeces in a bale will antagonize the wool buyer.
1691G. Fox Jrnl. (1911) II. 367 For the yearly *second days Meeting in London. 1705S. Sewall Jrnl. 7 Dec. in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. (1879) VI. 147, I refer'd them to second-day Morning Decr 10. to meet at the Secretary's Office.
[1807Morris & Kendrick Edin. Med. Dict. s.v. Burn, Burns are attended with a degree of inflammation, greater or less, according to the violence of the injury; and, according to the different appearances they put on, they may be divided into four different classes, 1. When the burnt part is affected only with a sense of heat and inflammation; 2. When it is also accompanied with intense pain and vesication; 3. When the integuments are converted into an eschar; and, 4. When all the soft parts are scorched to the very bone.] 1930Pack & Davis Burns iv. 20 *Second Degree. Degree two is one of vesication. 1972Miller & Keane Encycl. & Dict. Med. & Nursing 155/1 First-degree burns damage the epidermis; second-degree burns damage both epidermis and dermis; third-degree burns damage the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
1897Westm. Gaz. 27 July 3/2 The large body of *Second Division clerks.
1927Melody Maker May 515/1 It was quite an ordinary film. I should have only booked it as a *second feature, and then only if there was nothing else available. 1959C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 61 ‘You're a romantic!’ she said. ‘A second feature Romeo!’ 1970J. Hansen Fadeout vi. 49 He..would sit up half the night..enchanted by the tired wisecracks..in forgotten RKO second features of the thirties.
1860Man. Artillery Exercises (Army) 241 The cock resting against the knuckle-joint of the first finger; this and the *second finger only resting on the small of the stock. 1932News Chron. 15 Mar. 8/6 Making the tips of his first and little fingers touch; then bringing the second finger smoothly under the arch thus formed.
1821Coleridge Let. to Allsop 20 Oct. Lett. etc. (1858) 137 A house to the *second-floor window of which I had been gazing. 1840Thackeray Shabby-genteel Story vii, Suddenly the second-floor window went clattering up, and Fitch's pale head was thrust out.
1941W. S. Churchill Let. 4 Sept. in Second World War (1950) III. xxv. 407 There is no chance..of a *second front being formed in the Balkans without the help of Turkey. 1942New Statesman 3 Jan. 3/2 The key to victory is to open..that ‘second front in continental Europe’ for which Stalin has publicly called. 1944M. Laski Love on Supertax ii. 24 He said he'd..make sure there were enough helpers handing out the Second Front leaflets. 1946Life 11 Mar. 63/1 The Russians facetiously called Spam ‘the second front’. 1961E. Waugh Unconditional Surrender i. i. 21 A scarred brick wall, on which..a zealous, arthritic communist had emblazoned the words, Second Front Now. 1963A. Howard in Sissons & French Age of Austerity 30 The conservatives were waging what turned out to be a decisive second front.
1939PMLA LIV. 19 The *second raising and fronting of West Germanic a, which changed dæg to deg and dagas to dægas, must..have occurred, not during the fifth century, but during the eighth and early ninth. 1959A. Campbell Old Eng. Gram. v. 64 Second fronting is not a general Merc[ian] change, for it is practically absent in Ru.1, and ME sources show that it was limited to a small part of the vast Midland area. 1972E. J. Dobson Eng. Text of Ancrene Riwle p. lxxvi, The normal Mercian ĕ produced by indirect i-mutation followed by second fronting.
1902*Second gear [see gear n. 7 b]. 1976T. Heald Let Sleeping Dogs Die iii. 62 He..kept the car at fifteen miles an hour in second gear.
1872Howells Wedd. Journ. (1892) 32 The human wave is beginning to sprinkle the pavement with cooks and *second-girls.
1888*Second greaser [see greaser 1 b]. 1916F. W. Wallace Shack Locker 145 The second greaser paused and added ‘I didn't stop, sir.’ 1934C. Moore Twilight of Jibs & Topsails xiv. 227 It started in the mate's watch, and I was in that of the—called in nautical parlance—‘second greaser’, meaning, of course, the second mate.
1801Fuseli Lect. on Art i. (1848) 354 The series of figures on the *second or middle ground being described as placed above those on the foreground.
[1824A. Henderson Hist. Anc. & Mod. Wines ii. ii. 155 Among the secondary growths, those of Cramant, Avise, Oger, and Menil, are the most deserving of mention.] 1829J. F. Cooper Wept of Wish-ton-wish I. ii. 26 Much of the surface of this opening..was now concealed by bushes of what is termed the *second growth. 1863Bates Nat. Amazon iv. (1864) 94 Tracts of second-growth woods. 1879Tourgee Fool's Errand xliv. 327 With all her fearlessness as a horse-woman, she did not quite relish the idea of his bursting away through the low-branching second-growth to follow the pack. 1883C. Redding Hist. Mod. Wines v. 110 The best wines are from the noirien grape, and the best of the first growths fetch sixty-six francs, and of the second growths forty-four francs. 1920[see growth1 1 d]. 1980P. Ableman Shoestring's Finest Hour ii. 31 An admirable roast beef en croute..cheered down by a second-growth Pomerol of an excellent year.
1869Boutell Arms & Armour 173 Finally, there is the *second guard (seconde garde), between the two extremities of the rings of the pas-d'âne.
1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1824) I. xlv. 378 The old stags usually shed their horns first..; those of the *second head, (namely, such as are between five and six years old) shed their horns about the middle..of March. 1805Scott Guy M. xxxviii, The buck of the second-head, for a buck of the first-head he was not, had hitherto been slapping his boots with his switch whip.
1883Queen Victoria Let. 12 Dec. in R. Fulford Beloved Mama (1981) 153 Italy seems to be a *second home. I expect you will settle there some day. 1915F. Hardy Let. 17 July in R. Gittings Older Hardy (1978) xiii. 167 A second home for the people I like, and who have been good to me. 1937W. H. Saumarez Smith Let. 10 July in Young Man's Country (1977) ii. 79 The Saturday Club, which, since his wife's departure for England, is practically a second home to him. 1959M. Gilbert Blood & Judgement xiii. 142 He was away from home a lot and..she began to think he'd set up a second home of his own somewhere. 1970‘E. Lathen’ Pick up Sticks x. 85 All this second-home building helps. 1980Times 1 Aug. 13/7 Roll on the revolution when..we shall be entitled to substantial state pensions, preferential housing and second homes.
1976Local Council Rev. Summer 48 Bit by bit, house by house, the indigenous population is replaced by commuters or *second-homers. The village becomes a suburb in the fields.
1827‘Nimrod’ Chace (1852) 18 The ‘*second-horse man’..rides the second horse, which is to carry his master with the hounds after his having had one..chace on the first. 1860G. J. Whyte-Melville Mkt. Harb. 125 The second-horse men, notwithstanding their numbers, appeared to be all cut from the same pattern.
1599Massinger, etc. Old Law i. i, Are there not..Churchmen that even the *second infancy Hath silenc'd?
1681Addr. Grand Jury Chester in Lond. Gaz. No. 1657/4 We Your Majesties most Loyal Subjects of the *second Inquest of the same County, at the same Assize, heartily and chearfully say Amen, and joyn with the Grand Jury in this Address.
1881T. K. Cheyne Prophecies of Isaiah II. 201 The present essay..relates exclusively to the last twenty-seven chapters: not as if chaps. i.–xxxix. constituted ‘the First Isaiah’, and chaps. xl.–lxvi. ‘the *Second’. 1881― in Encycl. Brit. XIII. 380/2 The honied rhetoric of him whom we are accustomed to call the Second Isaiah. 1888M. Rosenthal Isaiah & Unity of his Prophecy ii. 57 Canon Cheyne..breaks up the so-called second Isaiah into several personages and various authorship... He thinks that second Isaiah was originally much shorter. 1977G. W. H. Lampe God as Spirit i. 31 It was now, in his own time, and not in some remote future, that Second Isaiah believed that the herald was coming.
1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVIII. 738/1 The first line ought to consist of 20 battalions, with..16 battalions in the *second line. 1876Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 231 An army, when drawn up for battle, should be formed in three distinct lines; the first line to commence the battle, the second, to support it, and to fill up the gaps; the third..as a reserve. 1904Westm. Gaz. 17 May 9/1 The main body of the investing force will be composed of fortress and second-line troops. 1912C. Mackenzie Carnival (ed. 5) iv. 43 Lilli Vergoe, a second-line girl in the Corps de Ballet of the Orient Palace of Varieties. 1939Russell & Smith in Ramsey & Smith Jazzmen 27 The funerals and parades always had a ‘second line’ which consisted of the kids who danced along behind. 1955Shapiro & Hentoff Hear Me Talkin' to Ya iii. 39, I was a ‘second⁓line’ kid. That meant I'd follow the big bands down the streets, and..carry their cases while they played. 1969Daily Tel. 6 Mar. 2 Numerous bright features also developed in the so-called second-line issues [of stock]. 1972Jazz & Blues Sept. 10/1 The second line beat is the funky, calypso-like 2/4 cadence struck up by the bass drummer in a New Orleans funeral parade. 1975Cricketer May 17/3 The Robins were still operating with their second-line bowlers. 1980J. Melville Chrysanthemum Chain 142 Those guys [sc. politicians] on your list are essentially second-line.
1958C. Wilford in P. Gammond Decca Bk. of Jazz ii. 40 The improvisations of master executants..preserved on record, for ready imitation by a host of *second-liners. 1972Jazz & Blues Sept. 10/1 These ‘second liners’ wave handkerchiefs and umbrellas and..break into a dipping, funky-butt step—half shimmy, half strut—that is known as ‘*second lining’. 1981Times 24 Apr. 18/2 Other companies reporting provided some good rises, particularly among second-liners.
1382Wyclif 1 Cor. xv. 47 The firste man of erthe, ertheli; the *secunde man of heuene, heuenli. 1848R. I. Wilberforce Doctr. Incarnation x. (1852) 233 Joined by supernatural union to that Second Man, the new Adam, Who is God's son by nature. [1963Railway Gaz. 15 Mar. 289 If such a method of operation can be agreed the many problems of providing a second man when moving locomotives light over running lines, terminal movements, and tripping will be simplified.] 1964Locomotive Jrnl. LXXVII. 205/2 Scores of Trainmen (Drivers, Firemen/2nd Men, and Guards) in the Sheffield Area have their normal diagrammed turns tampered with in an effort by the B.R.B. to scratch a few complete crews together. 1977Modern Railways Dec. 461/1, 12 years' haggling from which the one significant gain was agreement to phase out the secondmen in freight and shunting locomotive cabs by attrition.
1965E. W. Sutherland et al. in Rec. Progress Hormone Res. XXI. 640 The hormone (the first messenger) interacts with a component of the cell membrane to initiate increased accumulation of a mediator (the *second messenger), which then acts upon components of the effector cell. 1968Circulation XXXVII. 300/1 Although cyclic AMP stands as the only well-established second messenger to date, data supporting such a role for cyclic GMP have been obtained. 1979Sci. Amer. Sept. 127/1 The methylxanthine drugs, such as caffeine and theophylline, are thought to exert their effects by acting through the second-messenger system.
1641Wilkins Math. Magick ii. v. 184 In an hower a man will need at least 360 respirations, betwixt every one of which there shall be 10 *second minutes. 1694Phil. Trans. XVIII. 67 A Temporaneous progressive motion of the parts of the Air at the rate of 276 Paces in a second Minute of time.
a1879W. K. Clifford Elem. Dynamic iv. (1887) 15 If the density of an area is proportional to the distance from a line in its plane, being reckoned positive on one side of the line and negative on the other,..the mass-centre of the area..is called the pole of the line in regard to the area; and the moment of it in regard to the line is called the *second moment of the uniform area in regard to the line, or of the line in regard to the uniform area.
1959M. Shadbolt New Zealanders 13 Finally, in desperation, he took out a *second mortgage on the farm to pay Mother's fare to New Zealand. 1974Guardian 23 Jan. 11/6 Taking out a crippling second mortgage on their own house. 1977M. Allen Spence in Petal Park xii. 56 One of the lines he offered was loans secured by a second mortgage.
1902A. C. Harmsworth Motors & Motor-Driving x. 202 Immediately above this shaft is a *second shaft arranged parallel to it. 1904A. B. F. Young Compl. Motorist (ed. 2) iv. 116 On the top speed the drive is direct, the second motion shaft then lying idle. Ibid. 132 With their well-cut and thoroughly hardened gear⁓teeth the second shaft runs noiselessly. 1912Motor Manual (ed. 14) v. 165 The two shafts in the gearbox are called respectively the first motion shaft and the second motion shaft.
1693Lond. Gaz. No. 2843/4 A dark Grey *Second-Mourning Surtoot-Coat. 1712Tickell Spect. No. 410 ⁋1 She was dressed..in an agreeable Second-Mourning. a1814Sailor's Ret. i. iv. in New Brit. Theatre II. 322 Enter Lady Growl and Lucy Delves, in conversation—Lucy in second mourning.
1625Bacon Ess., Of Empire (Arb.) 301 Kings haue to deale with..their Nobles; their *Second-Nobles or Gentlemen [etc.].
c1380? Wyclif Wks. (1880) 362 To þe *secunde persone in trinyte..awnsweriþ þe state of þe clergy. 1513Bradshaw St. Werburge i. 837 A lorde Ihesu, the seconde persone in trynyte.
1821Byron Let. 4 Jan., It is then for the gallery and *second-price boxes.
1959Times 20 Oct. 19/3 Substantial two⁓way business in industrial shares partly reflected switching out of low-yield shares into higher yielding *second rankers. 1977Belfast Tel. 17 Jan. 4/1 A new account opened on an indecisive note with leaders keeping largely to Friday's levels. Among second-rankers Campari, 37p, Rotaprint, 24p.
1892A. Budd in F. Marshall Football: Rugby Union Game ix. 124 Having obtained it [sc. the ball], the practice is to deposit it behind the first or *second row of forwards. 1918V. H. Cartwright in J. E. Raphael Mod. Rugby Football ix. 133 The two second row men..should be the strongest forwards on the side. 1960E. S. & W. J. Higham High Speed Rugby iv. 186 The 3-2-3 formation requires two second-row forwards with very strong backs.
1969Australian 24 May 36/7 Owen Butler and Dick Millard, the two towering NSW Country *second rowers, are specialist lineout jumpers.
1817Moore Lalla Rookh, Fire-Worshippers iii. 45 That keen, *second-scent of death, By which the vulture snuffs his food In the still warm and living breath.
1826Examiner 193/2 After reverting to the past, our *second-seer makes bold to conjecture the future.
1654H. L'Estrange Chas. I (1655) 200 While the *second-service was reading at the Communion Table..it was disturbed by a Psalme begun. 1657Sparrow Rationale 239 In the meanwhile that part of the Service which she [sc. the Church] uses may perhaps more fitly be called the Second Service then the Communion. 1844J. C. Robertson How shall we conform to Liturgy of Church of England? (ed. 2) xii. 168 That part of the communion-office which is appointed to be used when there is no administration of the sacrament, and which..I shall, according to the custom of the seventeenth century, speak of as the ‘Second Service’. 1920M. Webb House in Dormer Forest v. 56 On Sundays Solomon went once to church. Once a month he attended ‘the second service’. 1964C. Mackenzie Life & Times III. 33 Glorified morning prayer would have to be endured before the bisected so called second service was reached.
1944F. Leib tr. E. Lifshitz in Jrnl. Physics (Moscow) VIII. 111/1 We look for the velocity vs..in the ‘first’ and ‘*second’ sound waves. 1944J. Smorodinsky tr. V. Peshkov in Ibid. 381/1 There must be in this liquid [sc. helium] two kinds of periodic motions: the ordinary sound..and the so-called ‘second sound’. 1964New Scientist 18 June 744/2 Second sound..is not really sound at all, but a heat wave that combines two potentially useful properties of sound and heat. 1975Nature 2 Oct. 359/3 M. B. Robin..has..detected the heat pulse from a non-radiative transition by means of the ‘second sound’ pulse propagated in super-fluid helium and recorded by a superconducting lead bolometer.
[1902A. C. Harmsworth Motors & Motor-Driving x. 205 To obtain the second of the three speeds provided.] 1912Motor Manual (ed. 14) iii. 74 *Second speed position. 1925Morris Owner's Manual 10 When it has gained some headway, change into second speed. 1970K. Ball Fiat 600, 600D Autobook vi. 57/1 Remove the second-speed driving gear, ballbearing and shaft retaining plate and slide out the reverse shaft and gear.
1632Lithgow Trav. vi. 296 The people..are commonly all of the *second Stature.
1773in H. T. Waghorn Cricket Scores (1899) 97 Lear (*2nd stop). 1847W. Denison Cricketer's Companion p. xv, The whole of this enormous quantity of ‘byes’ would seem to have been the result of inferior men having been appointed to the ‘second or long-stop’ situation.
1886T. F. Byrnes Professional Criminals of Amer. 182 Pickpocket, burglar and *second-story man. 1916[see porch-climber s.v. porch 8]. 1965‘Malcolm X’ Autobiogr. 46 Hustlers..sold ‘reefers’, or had just come out of prison, or were ‘second-story men’. 1978J. Carroll Mortal Friends ii. iii. 169 You're nothing but a pack of second-story workers, milkbottle robbers, and doormat theives!
1960Manch. Guardian 27 July 16/3 Rockefeller's plea for ‘all the money it takes’ to ensure the United States ‘the deterrent capability of a massive and superior *second strike’. 1960Ibid. 12 Sept. 9/1 We would need superior reconnaissance and target acquisition systems... These would need to be supported by a secure second-strike capability to reduce the risk of being outflanked. 1963Listener 31 Jan. 194/1 The Soviet Union almost certainly has a ‘second strike’ capacity too. 1976Ld. Home Way Wind Blows x. 152 As a second-strike weapon it [sc. the Polaris submarine] was a real deterrent.
1814Jane Austen Mansf. Park I. x. 220 She was quite shocked when I asked her whether wine was allowed at the *second table. 1857C. M. Yonge Dynevor Terrace I. xiv. 227 Their servants gave them⁓selves airs..especially the butler, who played the guitar, and insisted on a second table. a1911D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. xiii. 311 A man..can go on up and up. But not for girls. Nothing doing but charity and pity and the second table and the back door. 1953G. E. & K. R. Fussell English Countrywoman v. 133 The new cook expected to dine in the housekeeper's room, at a second table set up there.
1888Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. 309 *Second tap, a tap intermediate in size between a taper and a plug tap. 1964S. Crawford Basic Engin. Processes i. 24 If the hole being tapped is an open or through hole the second tap is quite suitable for finishing the thread.
1893M. H. Hayes Points of Horse iv. 40 The hock is extended, for the most part, by muscles which form the rear-most portion of the gaskin (‘*second thigh’). 1933L. E. Naylor Mod. Fox Terrier vi. 62 The worst possible form of hind-quarters consists of a short second-thigh and a straight stifle. 1972Country Life 10 Feb. 332/1 He [sc. a foxhound] was first-rate in every requisite of the chase, remarkable for his muscular back and loins, buttocks and second thighs.
1964M. McLuhan Under-standing Media xxxiii. 353 Multi-nationalisms had long deprived Europe of its economic unity. The Common Market came to it only with the *Second War. 1975P. Fussell Great War & Mod. Memory vii. 247 The same principle of literary selection..is visible in a poem of the Second War by Herbert Corby.
1974Times 13 Apr. 5/7 Mr Teng announced that the ‘socialist camp’ no longer existed, and that the planet was divided into the First World, consisting of the two superpowers, the *Second World, consisting of the other developed countries, and the Third World, which included the developing countries. 1974Economist 18 May 66/1 The conventional image of recent years has been of a first world of developed market economies, a second world of ‘socialist’ states, and the ‘third world’ of the developing nations. 1975Time 8 Sept. (Canada ed.) 20/2 The ‘Second World’ of the Socialist countries will make a show of complete support. 1978Church Times 25 Aug. 4/2 The scene was dominated by the post-war tension between the First and Second Worlds. 1979Dædalus Spring 124 In this approach, Europe would be seen as playing the role of what Chinese diplomacy likes to refer to as ‘the second world’. 1980Sci. Amer. Sept. 107/2 The already industrialized countries of the capitalist and communist blocs (respectively the ‘first world’ and ‘second world’).
[1930H. G. Wells Autocracy of Mr. Parham 257 (heading) Book the Fourth: The Second World War.] 1942Polit. Sci. Q. Sept. 321 The economic developments associated with the *second World War have restored to American railroads a volume of traffic comparable to that which they handled before the great depression. 1949Radio Times 15 July 35/1 Professor W. K. Hancock..describes the plan for the series of Civil Histories of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. 1978J. N. Ward Following Plough i. 17 My generation of theological students had to come to some sense of certainty about our vocation with minds much occupied by the imminence of the Second World War.
b. Chiefly with ppl. adjs. and with quasi-advb. sense, as † second brewed, second described, † second found, second-ranking, second recited. Also in verbs formed on syntactical combs., as second-colour v. (House painting), trans. to cover with a second coat of paint.
1721N. Amherst Terræ Fil. No. 48. 257 Trap's *second-brew'd balderdash runs thus [etc.].
1812P. Nicholson Mech. Exerc. 316 When the priming is quite dry..mix white lead, and a very small portion of red with linseed oil,..and *second colour your work. Ibid. 317 This coat is technically called by painters second colouring old work.
1825J. Nicholson Oper. Mech. 436 The sliding movement..in the *second-described machinery.
1594Blundevil Exerc. ii. (1636) 109 Subtract the Arch of that Quotient..and you shall have the *second found number.
1966N. Nicolson in H. Nicolson Diaries & Lett. (1966) 29 In 1927 he joined the Embassy in Berlin as its *second-ranking official.
1857Act 20 & 21 Vict. c. 59 §2 The said *second-recited Act.
B. n.2
I. One who or something which is second.
1. Elliptical uses of the adj. passing into quasi-n. (mostly admitting of plural).
a. second in blood, † second of kin (Sc. Law): one related in the second degree of consanguinity.
1567Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) III. 26/1 Item, Our Souerane Lord..declaris, that secundis in degreis of consanguinitie, and affinitie..may lauchfullie marie. 1582Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 481 Alexander Rutherfurd, alsua his sister sone, Alexander Chalmer, second and thriddis of kin to him. 1754Erskine Princ. Sc. Law (1809) 66 By seconds in blood, are meant first cousins.
b. Gram. Used ellipt. for second person (only before singular or pl.).
1530Palsgr. Introd. 33 The seconde plurell endeth ever in EZ. 1841Latham Eng. Lang. iv. xix. (1850) 298 The second singular of the preterite tense.
c. A place in the second class in an examination; one who takes such a place. Also, the competitor who comes next to the winner in a contest.
1852Bristed Five Yrs. Eng. Univ. (ed. 2) 283 To take even a good Second in Classics, one must [etc.]. 1892Shearman in Eng. Illustr. Mag. Mar. 445 This [the silver O.U.A.C. medal], and this alone, the winners and seconds receive for their place in the Oxford Sports. 1907‘Barbara Burke’ Barbara goes to Oxford 43 Miss Jones has a first-class and Miss Smith a second.
d. second of exchange (see exchange n. 5, and cf. first a. 7 b).
e. Chiefly Baseball. Used ellipt. for second base (see sense A. 7 a. above).
1861Sunday Mercury (N.Y.) 20 Oct. 5/5 ‘Dicky’ safely reached the second. 1900Ade Fables in Slang 34 She believed that she could get away with any Topic that was batted up to her and then slam it over to Second in time to head off the Runner. 1976Billings (Montana) Gaz. 6 July 1-c/5 Miquel Rodriquez was hurt while sliding into second on a wild pitch. 1977New Yorker 19 Sept. 40/1 When he had fielded the soft-ball and his daughter was racing from first to second, he couldn't think what else to do.
f. Phr. to deal seconds (see quot. 1951). U.S.
1951Amer. Speech XXVI. 101/1 Seconds, to deal, to deal cards other than the top card on the deck. It is practically impossible to detect this if the dealer is clever enough. 1978M. Puzo Fools Die xviii. 194 Not a top-notch mechanic but one who could easily deal seconds. That is, Cully could keep the top card for himself and deal the second card from the top.
2. a. One next to another (considered as the first in a series) in rank, quality, etc. Also, † a second instance, a match to something.
1594Drayton Idea 839 And see if Time (if he would strive to prove) Can shew a Second to so pure a Love. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 354 That City, being then not only without equal in the country, but without second, had..exercised almost as great an influence on the politics of England as [etc.].
b. = second in command. (See A. 2 d.)
1604Shakes. Oth. ii. iii. 144 And 'tis great pitty that the Noble Moore Should hazard such a place, as his owne Second With one of an ingraft Infirmitie. 1800Ld. Keith in Paget Papers (1896) I. 257 From my late second [Lord Nelson] I derived no advantage. 1954W. Faulkner Fable 240 Company commanders and battalion seconds stained with the filth of front lines.
†c. Printing. A pressman's assistant. Obs.
1683Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing 319 The one [Pressman] they distinguish by the name of First, the other his Second, these call one another Companions: The First is he that has wrought longest at that Press.
d. = second gear (see sense A. 7 a above).
1907M. Pemberton Amateur Motorist vi. 45, I got the ‘second’ in that time with a clash as of subterranean wheels. 1925A. Huxley Along Road i. 19 The Citroën went into second and remained there; slowly we puffed up the long ascent. 1940R. Stout in Mystery Book 400 The roadster whirred by in second. 1973M. Woodhouse Blue Bone xii. 140, I slipped the transmission up into second and poured on the power.
e. Mountaineering. The second climber of a team.
1907G. D. Abraham Compl. Mountaineer v. 67 A difficult overhanging pitch refused to yield to ordinary tactics; so I mounted on my second's shoulders. 1920G. W. Young Mountain Craft v. 230 The leader or last man will not, by the nature of the case, require the support of a good second. 1951E. Coxhead One Green Bottle i. 27 I'd planned to lead in rubbers. Seeing that my second's a beginner, and to be quite on the safe side. 1976G. Moffat Over Sea to Death v. 53 She placed her slings, clipped in her rope and, watching it fall, caught her second's eye.
f. The second in command of a six or patrol in the Scouting and Guiding movement.
1917R. E. Philipps Patrol System & Lett. to Patrol Leader ii. 14 The Second is a boy selected by the Patrol Leader to be his assistant. 1949W. Hillcourt Baden-Powell's Aids to Scoutmastership i. 41 In this council it is often found convenient to admit the Seconds (Assistant Patrol Leaders) also as members. 1958R. Hazlewood Scoutmaster's Guide from A to Z 213 Originally called a ‘corporal’ the Second (No. 2 in the Patrol) is the P.L.'s assistant. 1969Policy, Organisation & Rules of Girl Guides Assoc. (rev. ed.) 42 The Patrol is the group for work and play. It consists of not more than eight girls, including the Patrol Leader and Second.
†3. pl. = secundine. Obs.
1562Turner Herbal ii. (1568) 163 The seed of it [gelovers]..dryveth doune floures, secondes, and the byrthe. 1657W. Coles Adam in Eden ii. 5 The Root..is good for Women in Child-bed, to purge their Seconds and Termes.
4. Mus.
a. A term for the interval represented by 9/8; a tone two diatonic degrees above or below any given tone; the interval between any tone and a tone two diatonic degrees distant from it; the harmonic combination of two such tones.
1597Morley Introd. Mus. 71 All such as doe not make concord as a second, a fourth, a seuenth. a1620Campion Counterpoint Wks. (1909) 199 If the Base descends or falls, a second, third or fourth. 1730Treat. Harmony 15 The Second or Ninth of the key. 1788Cavallo in Phil. Trans. LXXVIII. 238 The second minor. 1873W. A. Barrett Chorister's Guide 94 The whole of the successive notes or intervals making a scale are seconds, the tones being called major and the semitones minor seconds.
b. The next to the highest part in a piece of concerted music. Hence, a voice suitable to such a part.
a1774Goldsm. Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776) II. 159 So that we see how injudiciously the performers on glasses manage, who play firsts, seconds, and sometimes a base altogether upon an instrument, whose only excellence depends, not on its strength, but its simplicity of tone. 1840J. T. J. Hewlett P. Priggins iii, [I] passed two or three pleasant hours standing over a pianoforte and a very fine girl, to whom I was well contented to sing second. 1905J. Heywood Music in Churches 14 Some ladies persist in singing in thirds below the melody... This, I believe, is..called ‘putting in a second’.
5. pl. Comm. A quality (of bricks, flour, etc.) second and inferior to the best. Also fig.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxv, And take thou my oblacion, poore but free, Which is not mixt with seconds, knows no art. 1700Acts Assembly Pennsylv. (1762) I. 11 If any Person..offer to Sale any Trash or Seconds, rotten or frost bitten Tobacco, or such [etc.]. 1812P. Nicholson Mech. Exerc. 225 The finest kind of marls [bricks] called firsts... The next best called seconds. 1823J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 30 A weakness which is occasioned by the millers' grinding their corn too much, particularly white samples, nearly the whole whereof is brought to market as seconds and thirds. 1858Skyring Builders' Prices 93 For seconds glass, up to 1 foot 7, deduct 1d. 1903Daily Chron. 21 Apr. 2/6 Cork Butter.—Firsts, 86s; seconds, 80s; thirds, 78s. 1908Sears, Roebuck Catal. 349/2 We could sell seconds for less money than any of our competitors if we dealt in that class of merchandise. 1942E. Paul Narrow St. iii. 20 This friend was able to sequester from the large department-store stock ‘seconds’ which had no detectable imperfections. 1952[see imperfect n. 3]. 1972Accountant 17 Aug. 195/2 Garages could fit ‘seconds’ without being spotted, or even swop old tyres. 1976E. Ward Hanged Man ii. 9 They listened to the patter act of a Manchester huckster selling tea-set seconds.
†6. One-half. (On the analogy of third, fourth, etc.) Obs. rare.
1594Blundevil Exerc. i. vii. (1636) 20 The Numerator is alwayes set above, and the Denominator beneath, having a little line drawne betwixt them thus ½ which signifieth one second or one halfe. 1660J. Moore Arith. 5 As if the unite be conceived to be divided into two parts, the parts are called seconds or halves.
7. In systems of fractional numeration (or of weights or measures) having a constant modulus: The subdivision next but one below the unit, and next below the ‘prime’; the lower subdivisions being usually called ‘thirds’, ‘fourths’, etc.
Cf. second n.1, which is a special case of the sense here defined, but is treated separately because it was taken from med.L. or Rom.; the uses below may be most conveniently regarded as applications of the Eng. ordinal numeral suggested by second n.1
†a. Scottish Troy Weight. The 576th part (1 {div} 242) of a grain. Obs.
1604[see prime n.2].
†b. (a) Arith. The quantity ·01 or 1/100. (b) Surveying. The 100th part of a perch, = 1·98 inches.
1619Lyte Art of Tens 14 Euerie vnite of a prime being diuided into ten parts, are called seconds. 1658Phillips, A Second in surveying, is the tenth part of a prime, and contains one inch, and 49 of 50 parts of an inch. 1766Hutton School Master's Guide 55 The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, &c. places of decimals, counting from the left-hand towards the right, are denominated the places of primes, seconds, thirds, and fourths, &c. respectively. 1794S. Cunn Doctr. Fractions 61 Primes, or Tenth Parts. Seconds, or Hundredth Parts. Thirds, or Thousandth Parts.
c. Duodecimals. The twelfth part of a ‘prime’ or inch.
Formerly (if quot. 1703 be correct), the 144th part of an inch, the 12th being called a ‘prime’.
1703T. N. City & C. Purchaser 123 Inches by (12th) Parts, produce Seconds, or 12th Parts of the 12th Part of an Inch. 1714S. Cunn Doctr. Fractions 119 To multiply any Integers, Primes, Seconds, &c. by a Multiple of 12 Integers; first Multiply by 12 [etc.]. 1842Gwilt Archit. §868 Feet and inches are marked with their initial letters, but twelfths or seconds by a double accent, thus 2{pp}.
8. pl. A second helping of food at a meal; occas. the second or sweet course. colloq.
1792D. O'Connell Let. 14 Sept. (1972) I. 4 We get very small portions at dinner; most of the lads..get what they call seconds, that is, a second portion every day. 1918L. E. Ruggles Navy Explained 124 When there is not enough of the first issue of rations the mess cook is requested to go to the galley and get ‘seconds’. 1942Yank 28 Oct. 8 We were more delighted than we can say to get a hamburger in a foreign land and went for seconds. 1960‘R. East’ Kingston Black xiv. 139 Kitty had served tinned fruit and farm cream for seconds. 1974P. Gzowski Bk. about This Country 59/1 This dish has been served to hundreds of people over the years and requests for seconds (or even thirds) are usual. 1981A. Price Soldier no More 121 Lexy scraped the frying pan... Would you like seconds, David darling?
II.
9. One who or something which renders aid or support to another. †a. gen.
1590Sir R. Williams Brief Disc. War 23 When those that giue the first charge begin to retire or wax colde, the great Officers command their seconds to the assaults. 1610Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 105 Ile be thy Second. 1626Middleton Women beware Women ii. ii. 295 We wish no better seconds in society Than your discourses, madam. 1632Lithgow Trav. viii. 355 But the gold was my best second,..[and] was my continuall vade Mecum. 1650Fuller Pisgah i. iii. 7 Glasses are but the seconds, which succeed on the Cupboard, when Plate the principall is otherwise disposed of. 1711–12Swift Jrnl. to Stella 15 Mar., People will not understand: I am a very good second, but I care not to begin a recommendation, unless it be for an intimate friend. 1740Richardson Pamela (1824) I. lii. 382 She is very happy in Mrs. Jervis, who is an excellent second to her admirable lady.
b. spec. One who acts as representative of a principal in a duel, carrying the challenge, arranging locality and loading weapons. Similarly in a pugilistic contest.
1613Webster Devil's Law-Case ii. i, Erc. Shall's haue no Seconds? Con. None, for feare of preuention. Erc. The length of our weapons? Con. Weele fit them by the way. 1632Star Chamb. Cases (1886) 113 Indeed his second J. S. was acquitted, for that it appeared he knew not of the combatt before he came there. 1712Swift Jrnl. to Stella 12 Dec., Colonel Hamilton, who was second to the Duke of Hamilton, is tried to-day. 1743J. Broughton in P. Egan Boxiana (1818) I. 51 In every main battle, no person whatever shall be upon the stage, except the principals and their seconds. 1814Scott Chivalry (1874) 25 It was usual to have more seconds even to the number of five or six. 1841Fistiana 63 That each man shall be attended to the ring by a second and a bottle-holder, the former provided with a sponge, and the latter with a bottle of water. 1852Thackeray Esmond i. xiv, ‘There was no need for more seconds than one,’ said the Colonel, ‘and the Captain or Lord Warwick might easily withdraw.’ 1897Encycl. Sport I. 139/2 (Boxing) Seconds, men, generally professional boxers, appointed to attend on the contestants in the intervals between the rounds.
†c. Assistance, aid, support. Also pl. in the same sense. Obs. rare.
1603B. Jonson Sejanus ii. ii, This second (from his Mother) will well vrge Our late dissigne, and spur on Cæsars rage. a1609Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 12, I gave them no second till I might perceive those within had spent their ready powder in their furnitures. Ibid. 18 An officer with two hundred souldiers..came to their seconds. 1640tr. Verdere's Rom. of Rom. i. xix. 82 This blow so affrighted the enemy, that they had certainly retired to their trenches, if the Cariffe of Africca..had not..come into their second.
▪ III. second, v.1|ˈsɛkənd|
[a. F. second-er (OF. segonder), † to come after (obs.), to favour (= Pr. segondar, Sp., Pg. segundar, It. secondare), ad. L. secundāre to direct favourably, favour, further, f. secund-us following, favourable: see second a. In some uses partly an independent Eng. formation on the adj.]
1. a. trans. To support, back up, assist, encourage (a person, his actions, aims, etc.).
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. (Sommer) 246 Shall I (said she) second his boldnesse so farre, as to reade his presumptuous letters? 1601Shakes. Jul. C. iii. i. 29 Where is Metellus Cimber, let him go, And presently preferre his suite to Cæsar. Bru. He is addrest: presse neere, and second him. 1650Bulwer Anthropomet. 148 He seconds that which he ought to withstand. 1719Swift To Young Clergym. Wks. 1755 II. ii. 9 If in company you offer something for a jest, and no-body seconds you in your own laughter. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iii. v, His family had imbibed all his views, and seconded them. 1847Prescott Peru (1850) II. 201 So eagerly did he press forward the work, and so well was he seconded by the multitude of labourers at his command. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xvi. 486 His efforts were seconded by a somewhat subservient parliament.
†b. To act as a second or assistant to (a leader).
1588Allen Admon. 15 So jelous be all tyrants and vsurpers, of their state, and so lothe they are to be seconded by any other then of their owne creation. 1590Sir R. Williams Brief Disc. War 16 What other Officers ought to second their great Officers.
†c. To follow, attend, accompany. In pass., to be accompanied (with). Obs.
1600Surflet Country Farm vii. xxv. 847 The horsemen appointed to waite vpon the companie, must alwaies second and keepe by the sides of the dogs. 1601B. Jonson Poetaster iii. iv. Wks. 1616 I. 308 See, here's Horace, and old Trebativs, the great lawier, in his companie; let's auoid him now: He is too well seconded. 1632Lithgow Trav. ix. 381 The Bashaw went.., seconded with twelue followers.
d. To sing second to (a singer, song).
1586L. Bryskett Past. Aeglogue 13 in Spenser Astrophel, With sobs and sighes I second will thy song. 1883J. Hawthorne Dust I. 175 Lancaster would second Marion's soprano with his baritone.
e. Mountaineering. To act as a second (second n.2 2 e) to (the leader of a climb) or on (a climb). Also absol.
1951E. Coxhead One Green Bottle ii. 49 He wants someone to second him up the north wall. 1968P. Crew Encycl. Dict. Mountaineering 106/1 To second a climb is to do a climb as the second man on the rope. 1972D. Haston In High Places i. 8 It's not hard to see why leading [on a rock climb] is that much more exciting than seconding.
2. esp. To support, back up (a combatant, a body of troops) in attack or defence. Also, to act as second to (a pugilist).
1588Willoughby in Defeat Sp. Armada (Navy Rec. Soc.) II. 32 Those that are taken here cry out upon the Duke of Parma, that they are betrayed by him, because they were not seconded according to their expectation. 1590Sir R. Williams Brief Disc. War 22 He deuides his troupes to second one the other, according to the widenes of the breach. 1607Shakes. Cor. v. vi. 57 Let him feele your Sword, Which we will second. c1611Chapman Iliad xi. 306 Hector..rusht with clamor on the king, right soundly seconded With troupes of Troians. 1645Symonds Diary (Camden) 258 A party of Arcall horse charged the persuers, and were seconded by part of Prince Maurice's life guard. 1799Ht. Lee Canterb. T., Trav. T. (ed. 2) I. 22 A young cavalier..seconded him with so much spirit, that one of the villains was presently stretched upon the spot. 1821John Bull 5 Mar. 89/3 The Black was seconded by Richmond and Paddington Jones. c1850Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 470 Being seconded by his slaves, who all promised to be faithful, he attacked the negro. 1884Manch. Exam. 13 Aug. 5/1 Griffiths..is said to have seconded Henry, and to have interfered to prevent the fight being stopped.
†b. To reinforce with additional numbers.
a1609Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 5 In the mean time the enemie seconded their troops of shot with to the number of four or five hundred.
†c. To take the place of, succeed (a combatant who is hors de combat). Obs.
1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. ix. 35 But now is Cade driuen back, his men dispierc'd, And now is Yorke in Armes, to second him. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, iv. ii. 45, 46 And though wee here fall downe, Wee haue Supplyes, to second our Attempt: If they mis-carry, theirs shall second them. 1614Raleigh Hist. World II. v. iii. §17. 542 Being ouer-pressed on either side, they had a safe retrait vnto their foot; and one troupe seconding another by course, returned to charge.
†d. absol. and intr. To render aid; to side with. Obs. rare.
a1609Sir F. Vere Comm. (1657) 11 A signall of drums, at which the first four troops should go to the assault; and another signall to the other four troops to second, if need required. 1654Fuller Comm. Ruth 45 The mother, because her sonne is flesh of her flesh,..pleades it is right, that he should side and second with her.
3. a. To support (a speaker, a proposition) in a debate or conference by speaking in the same sense; spec. to rise to support (a mover or motion) as a necessary preliminary to further discussion or to the adoption of the motion.
1597Bacon Ess., Ceremonies (Arb.) 28 It is a good precept generally in seconding another: yet to adde somewhat of ones owne. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §75 This method was..diverted by other propositions, which being seconded took much time without pointing to any conclusion. 1685Evelyn Diary 22 May, Mr. Seymour made a bold speech against many Elections..but no one seconded him. 1692R. L'Estrange Fables xxvii. 26 The Motion was Seconded and Debated. 1782F. Burney Cecilia vii. v, Mrs. Charlton..instantly seconded the proposal. 1817Parl. Deb. 23 The noble lords who moved and seconded the address. 1837Thirlwall Greece IV. xxxiv. 331 Cheirisophus seconded this proposal, and they immediately proceeded to the election.
absol.1802G. Rose Diaries (1860) I. 496 Lord Lowther had been applied to to move the address... Lord Nelson was to second.
†b. To support, back (a statement, opinion, a person in his opinion); to confirm, corroborate (a report). Obs.
1596Lambarde Peramb. Kent (ed. 2) 113 In which opinion, I am the more willing to dwell, bicause..I finde myselfe verie learnedly seconded by master Camden. 1605B. Jonson Volpone ii. i, I heard, last night, a most strange thing reported By some of my Lords followers, and I long To heare, how't will be seconded! 1607Shakes. Cor. iv. vi. 62 The Slaues report is seconded. a1677Barrow Serm. Wks. 1716 II. 97 Whose affirmation..I intend to second with particular instances. 1699Bentley Phal. 278 Plato himself relates it as a Paradox; and no body that came after him, would second him in't. 1741Richardson Pamela (1785) III. xxxiii. 293 The Countess..ran on in my Praise..and Lady Davers seconded her.
4. To further, assist the effect of, reinforce (a thing, activity, etc.). (With subject either a person or thing.)
a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. (Sommer) 317 Nowe seconding their terrible blowes with cunning labouring the horses. 1639Du Verger tr. Camus' Admir. Events 127 Her froward husband..replyed with sharpe words seconded with such heavy blowes. 1665Temple Lett. Wks. 1731 II. 4 The Vigour of his Body does not second that of his Mind. 1759Johnson Rasselas xlii, Seconding every fall of rain with a due proportion of sunshine. 1858Stanley Arnold I. v. 203 Deeds must second words when needful.
†5.
a. (With little or nothing of the idea of furthering or assisting.) To follow up or accompany with (or by) some second thing. In pass., to be followed, succeeded, or accompanied. Obs.
1609Tuvill Vade-mecum (1629) 139 The Wise Physition doth neuer minister a Potion..but hee seconds it with something that is more pleasing and Delicious to the taste. 1631Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 54 This Proclamation was seconded by another, to the same purpose. a1716South Serm. (1744) XI. 220 After the overflowing of sin upon the whole earth, God in his justice seconds it with a deluge of waters. 1759–74Toplady Hymn, ‘I saw and lo!’, So sung the Saints. Th' Angelic train Second the anthem with a loud Amen.
†b. To add a second to; to follow or succeed as a second. Obs.
1655Earl of Norwich in Nicholas Papers (Camden) II. 304, I would haue agayne seconded my last to him after the receipt of his in answer to my former, but yt I feard [etc.]. 1781Bentham Corr. Wks. 1843 X. 110 To-day, at dinner, I had the favour of yours of the 29th, as to my not seconding my last letter sooner.
†c. To repeat (an action, esp. a blow). Obs.
1610Healey St. Aug. Citie of God v. vi. 204 Natures powre is such that a woman hauing once conceiued cannot second any conception vntil she bee deliuered of the first. 1648Gage West Ind. 102 He struck off two of the Fryers fingers, and had undoubtedly seconded another blow..had not the Indians interposed themselves. 1667Milton P.L. x. 335 Hee..saw his guileful act By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded Upon her Husband. 1684Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 110 Then Mr Great-heart seconded his blow, and smit the head of the Giant from his shoulders. 1737[S. Berington] G. de Lucca's Mem. (1738) 32 Before he could second his Shot, I gave him..a Stroke with my Broad Sword. 1831Scott Ct. Rob. xxxiii, The Count was in the act of again seconding his blow.
†6. To match with a second instance. Obs.
1600W. Watson Decacordon (1602) 276 Our soueraigne Queene Elizabeth..is knowne to be in her owne high towring princely wisedome of as high a pitch..: in reach not to be seconded of any of these [kings and princes]. 1601Holland Pliny vii. xxv. I. 168 He left such a president behind him, as I forbid all men to match or second it. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. xi. 256 Next Sebert them succeeds Scarce seconded againe for sanctimonious deeds. 1632Lithgow Trav. viii. 369 [Fez] may rather second Grand Caire, than subioyne it selfe to Constantinople.
†7. To come second to (in quality). Obs. rare—1.
1601Dolman La Primaud. Fr. Acad. iii. lxxxiii. (1618) 825 The white [dogs] are best... The browne doth second them [orig. les secondent].
Hence ˈseconding vbl. n.
1613Chapman Rev. Bussy D'Ambois iii. iii. 23 Nay we shall lay on hands of too much strength To need your secondings. 1837Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. ii. v, Which indeed, with such seconding as he had, one may reckon heroic.
▪ IV. second, v.2 orig. Mil.|sɪˈkɒnd|
[f. F. second in the phrase en second: see second a. 2 c.]
trans. To remove (an officer) temporarily from his regiment or corps, for employment on the staff, or in some other extra-regimental appointment. Also transf. of employees in other occupations and employments. Hence seˈconded ppl. a.
1802C. James Milit. Dict. s.v., Capitaine en Second..Lieutenant en Second..are officers whose companies have been reduced, but who do duty in others, and are destined to fill up the first vacancies. We have borrowed the expression and say, To be seconded. When an officer is seconded, he remains upon full pay, his rank goes on, and he may purchase the next vacant step, without being obliged to memorial in a manner that a half-pay officer must. 1833Westm. Rev. Apr. 308 How to cut down an army of 300,000 men to one of 100,000, with the least subsequent expense of half-pay, is a problem that ought to be solved..; and the solution would be found in the obsolete practice of second-ing (or as the proper pronunciation in a mess-room is, segoond-ing). 1869Times 15 Apr. 9/3 As this officer was placed on the seconded list of the Royal Artillery..he will have to wait for a vacancy to occur. 1875G. P. Colley in Encycl. Brit. II. 576/1 Officers holding certain appointments are ‘seconded’—that is, their place in the regiment is filled up, and they become supernumerary, their names being shown in italics in the Army List; but they still belong to the regiment, and rise in it in due course. 1897Q. Rev. July 242 The officers in question had been..‘seconded’ for service in the forces of the Chartered Company. 1920Westm. Gaz. 22 May 10/1 It was finally agreed that Lord Moulton should be seconded to the service of the Corporation and of the dye industry for..one year. 1928Times 21 July 13/3 They established an elaborate organization, under an important Minister, and manned by specially seconded Civil servants of high standing. 1955Times 23 June 13/4 Mr. Mayne was seconded for special frontier duties, in the course of which he made many acquaintances and friends among the Pathans. 1977News of World 17 Apr. 1/1 The Commission consisted of the chairman, deputy chairman, and 30 seconded civil servants. |