Second | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Sĕc'ond, a.

adjective

a. [Fr. second, Pr. segon, Sp. & Pg. segundo, It. secondo, from Lat. secundus, the second, properly the following, from sequi, to follow.] 1. Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; the ordinal of two. And he slept and dreamed the second time. Gen. xli. 5. 2. Next in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; inferior. May the day when we become the second people upon earth ... be the day of our utter extirpation. Landor. Second cousin, the child of a cousin. — Second estate (Eng.), the House of Peers. — Second story, 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.

Sĕc'ond, n.

noun

n. 1. One who follows or comes after; one next and inferior in place, time, rank, or the like.

Man An angel's second, nor his second long. Young.

Sense 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. Wotton.

Sense 3. Aid; assistance; help. [Obs. and rare.]

Give second, and my love is everlasting thine. J. Fletcher.

Sense 4. The sixtieth part of a minute of time or of a degree, that is, the second regular division next to the hour or degree; as, sound moves about 1140 English feet in a second.

Sense 5. (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.

Sense 6. (pl.) A coarse kind of flour.

Sĕc'ond, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SECONDED; p. pr. & vb. n. SECONDING.] [Fr. secōnder, Pr. segondar, Sp. & Pg. segundar, It. secondare, Lat. secundare, from secundus. See supra.]

Sense 1. To follow in the next place; to succeed; to alternate. [Rare.]

In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill. Fuller.

Sin is seconded with sin. South.

Sense 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 ends produce, Yet serves to second, too, some other use. Pope.

Sense 3. Hence, specifically, to support, as a motion or proposal, by adding one's voice to that of the mover or proposer.