seconds
UK[ˈsɛkəndz]US[ˈsɛkəndz]
n
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.
n
A very short period of time; a moment.
n
The second of a sequence of items or finishers.
v
To formally support a proposal or nomination made by another person.
v
To transfer a military officer or official to a temporary assignment elsewhere.
Morpheme Breakdown
second
s
second
following
s
plural/verb suffix
Etymology
The word 'seconds' originates from the Latin secundus, meaning "following" or "next," derived from the verb sequi, "to follow." This root is shared with words like "sequence" and "consecutive." In its journey into English via Old French, the core concept of "coming next after the first" was applied to time, order, and rank, giving us the "second" minute and the "second" place. The plural form 'seconds' naturally extends these notions to multiple units of time or ranked items, while its verbal use, "to second," metaphorically applies the idea of "following" or "supporting" a motion or proposal, with the '-s' suffix marking its present tense conjugation.
Analysis
Structure: second (following) + s (plural/verb suffix)
- second: From Latin secundus (following, next, second), from sequi (to follow). Functions as the base word, carrying the core meanings of temporal sequence, rank, or support.
- s: A native English suffix from Old English, functioning either as a plural marker for nouns or as a third-person singular present tense marker for verbs.
Examples
There are sixty seconds in a minute.
I'll be ready in just a few seconds.
She seconds the motion to adjourn the meeting.