second-hand
UK[ˈsɛkənd ˈhand]US[ˈsɛkənd ˈhænd]
adj
Previously owned or used by someone else; not new.
adj
(of information, news, etc.) Received indirectly from another source, not from personal experience or observation.
adv
In a way that involves buying, using, or learning from something that is not new or direct.
Morpheme Breakdown
second
hand
second
hand
Etymology
The term "second-hand" originated in the 16th century from the world of commerce and timekeeping. Literally, it described the "second hand" of a clock or watch, the pointer that indicates the seconds, which follows the primary hour and minute hands. This concept of being subsequent or derivative was then applied to goods, implying they came "from the second hand" of a previous owner, rather than new from the maker's "first hand." The metaphorical extension to information or experience developed later, characterizing knowledge not gained directly but relayed through an intermediary source.
Analysis
Structure: second + hand
- second: From Latin 'secundus' (following, next), via Old French. In this compound, it means "coming after the first or original."
- hand: From Old English 'hand'. In this compound, it metaphorically represents possession, agency, or direct contact.
Examples
She bought a second-hand car to save money.
I only heard the news second-hand, so I can't confirm all the details.
The bookstore has a large section for second-hand textbooks.