These two kinds of image … have a powerful appeal for us, first, because we are all … inevitably concerned about our fate, and second, because our concern is itself twofold … Robert Penn Warren
: the 60th part of a minute of time : 1/86,400 part of the mean solar day
specifically: the base unit of time in the International System of Units that is equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom
: to support (a fighting person or group) in combat : bring up reinforcements for
2
a
: to support or assist in contention or debate
b
: to endorse (a motion or a nomination) so that debate or voting may begin
3
si-ˈkänd chiefly British: to release (someone, such as a military officer) from a regularly assigned position for temporary duty with another unit or organization
Adjective We sat in the second row. the second house on the left B is the second letter in the alphabet. That's the second time I've seen him today. Chocolate is my first choice; vanilla is my second choice. The chair needs a second coat of paint. She plays second violin in the city orchestra. Verb I would like to second the motion to adjourn. “Let's call it a day.” “I'll second that.” See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French secund, from Latin secundus second, following, favorable, from sequi to follow — more at sue
Noun (2)
Middle English secounde, from Medieval Latin secunda, from Latin, feminine of secundus second; from its being the second sexagesimal division of a unit, as a minute is the first