second-trimester
UK[ˌsek.ənd ˈtraɪ.mes.tər]US[ˌsek.ənd traɪˈmes.tər]
adj
occurring in, relating to, or characteristic of the second three-month period of a human pregnancy, typically from weeks 13 to 26.
n
the second three-month period of a human pregnancy.
Morpheme Breakdown
second
trimester
second
ordinal
trimester
period
Etymology
the compound "second-trimester" is a modern medical term constructed from two latinate elements. "second" originates from the latin secundus, meaning "following," which itself derives from the proto-indo-european root sekw- "to follow." "trimester" combines the latin numerical prefix tri- (from pie trei- "three") with mensis "month," literally meaning "a period of three months." the logic of the term is transparently sequential: it designates the "following" or next three-month block in the standard tripartite division of human gestation, evolving from these literal temporal components into a precise clinical descriptor.
Analysis
Structure: second (ordinal) + trimester (period)
second: from latin secundus meaning "following, next in order," from the verb sequi "to follow." functions as an ordinal number specifying position in a sequence.
trimester: from latin trimestris, from tri- "three" + mensis "month." functions as a noun-forming element denoting a period of three months.
Examples
the anatomy scan is a standard ultrasound performed during the second-trimester.
many women experience a surge in energy in the second-trimester of pregnancy.
certain prenatal tests are only available in the second-trimester.