They have but a secondhand or implicit knowledge.
--Locke.
[1913 Webster]
2. Not new; already or previously possessed or used by
another; as, a secondhand book, garment.
[1913 Webster]
{At second hand}. See {Hand}, n., 10. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
secondhand — (adj.) also second hand, late 15c., from SECOND (Cf. second) (adj.) + HAND (Cf. hand) (n.) … Etymology dictionary
secondhand — [adj] used handed down, handme down, not new, old, pre owned, previously owned, unnew; concepts 578,797 … New thesaurus
secondhand — [sek′əndhand′] adj. 1. not direct from the original source; not original 2. used or worn previously by another; not new 3. of or dealing in merchandise that is not new adv. not firsthand; not directly … English World dictionary
secondhand — I. adjective Date: 1654 1. a. received from or through an intermediary ; borrowed b. derivative < secondhand ideas > 2. a. acquired after being used by another ; not new < secondhand … New Collegiate Dictionary
secondhand — I adjective 1. derived from what is primary or original; not firsthand (Freq. 1) a secondhand report a secondhand account of a memory of something once read most of our knowledge is secondhand • Similar to: ↑secondary … Useful english dictionary
secondhand — secondhandedness, n. /sek euhnd hand /, adj. 1. not directly known or experienced; obtained from others or from books: Most of our knowledge is secondhand. 2. previously used or owned: secondhand clothes. 3. dealing in previously used goods: a… … Universalium
secondhand — sec•ond•hand [[t]ˈsɛk əndˈhænd[/t]] adj. 1) not directly known or experienced: secondhand knowledge[/ex] 2) previously used or owned: secondhand clothes[/ex] 3) dealing in previously used goods: a secondhand bookseller[/ex] 4) after another user… … From formal English to slang
secondhand — 1. adjective 1) secondhand clothes Syn: used, old, worn, preowned, handed down, hand me down, castoff; informal preloved Ant: new 2) secondhand information Syn … Thesaurus of popular words
secondhand — /ˌsekənd hænd/ adjective, adverb which has been owned by someone before ● a secondhand car ● the market in secondhand computers or the secondhand computer market ● to buy something secondhand … Marketing dictionary in english
secondhand — sec|ond|hand [ ,sekənd hænd ] adjective 1. ) owned or used by someone else before you: secondhand books/clothing 2. ) heard from someone who was not directly involved in a situation: We haven t seen Joyce since the accident. All our information… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
