- Second thoughts
- 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, occurring again; another;
other.
[1913 Webster]
And he slept and dreamed the second time. --Gen. xli. 5. [1913 Webster]
2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior. [1913 Webster]
May the day when we become the second people upon earth . . . be the day of our utter extirpation. --Landor. [1913 Webster]
3. Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a prototype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge. [1913 Webster]
A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
{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}, {Second 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 {Second thoughts}, consideration of a matter following a first impulse or impression; reconsideration. [1913 Webster]
On second thoughts, gentlemen, I don't wish you had known him. --Dickens. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
