Second vs. Secondly — What's the Difference?

A unit of time, 1/60 of a minute.

Used to introduce the second point.

To endorse or support a proposal or motion.

As a second item in a sequence.

The second (symbol: s, abbreviation: sec) is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI) (French: Système International d’unités), commonly understood and historically defined as 1⁄86400 of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds each. Analog clocks and watches often have sixty tick marks on their faces, representing seconds (and minutes), and a "second hand" to mark the passage of time in seconds.

Serving as a transitional adverb.

Formally support or endorse (a nomination or resolution or its proposer) as a necessary preliminary to adoption or further discussion

Indicating the second reason.

Transfer (a military officer or other official or worker) temporarily to other employment or another position

In the second place (used to introduce a second point or reason)

A sixtieth of a minute of time, which as the SI unit of time is defined in terms of the natural periodicity of the radiation of a caesium-133 atom.

In the second place; second.

A sixtieth of a minute of angular distance.

In the second place.

A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of a minute.

In the second place.

The time needed for a cesium-133 atom to perform 9,192,631,770 complete oscillations. See Table at measurement.

In the second place;

A brief interval of time; a moment.

(Mathematics) A unit of angular measure equal to one sixtieth of a minute. In this sense, also called arcsecond, second of arc.

The ordinal number matching the number 2 in a series.

One of two equal parts.

One that is next in order, place, time, or quality after the first.

Often seconds An article of merchandise of inferior quality.

The official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match.

The interval between consecutive tones on the diatonic scale.

A tone separated by this interval from another tone.

A combination of two such tones in notation or in harmony.

The second part, instrument, or voice in a harmonized composition.

An utterance of endorsement, as to a parliamentary motion.

The transmission gear or gear ratio used to produce forward speeds higher than those of first and lower than those of third in a motor vehicle.

Or seconds(Informal) A second serving of food.

(Baseball) Second base.

Coming next after the first in order, place, rank, time, or quality.

Repeating an initial instance

Reminiscent of one that is well known

Alternate; other

Inferior to another; subordinate

Having a lower pitch.

Singing or playing a part having a lower range.

Having the second-highest ratio. Used of gears in a sequence.

To endorse (a motion or nomination) as a required preliminary to discussion or vote.

To support or promote

To attend (a duelist or a boxer) as an aide or assistant.

(sĭ-kŏnd) Chiefly British To transfer (a military officer, for example) temporarily.

In the second order, place, or rank

But for one other; save one

Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.

Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.

Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.

(with superlative) After the first; at the second rank.

After the first occurrence but before the third.

Something that is number two in a series.

Something that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.

The place that is next below or after first in a race or contest.

A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.

An additional helping of food.

A chance or attempt to achieve what should have been done the first time, usually indicating success this time around. (See second-guess.)

(music) The interval between two adjacent notes in a diatonic scale (either or both of them may be raised or lowered from the basic scale via any type of accidental).

The second gear of an engine.

(baseball) Second base.

The agent of a party to an honour dispute whose role was to try to resolve the dispute or to make the necessary arrangements for a duel.

A Cub Scout appointed to assist the sixer.

(informal) A second-class honours degree.

One-sixtieth of a minute; the SI unit of time, defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of radiation corresponding to the transition between two hyperfine levels of caesium-133 in a ground state at a temperature of absolute zero and at rest.

A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.

(informal) A short, indeterminate amount of time.

One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.

One who supports or seconds a motion, or the act itself, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.

(obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.

(transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (See under #Etymology 3 for translations.)

To follow in the next place; to succeed.

(climbing) To climb after a lead climber.

To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.

(transitive) To assist or support; to back.

(transitive) To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two. (This may come from the English adjective above.)

To accompany by singing as the second performer.

Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; hence, occurring again; another; other.

Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.

Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a prototype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge.

One who, or that which, follows, or comes after; one next and inferior in place, time, rank, importance, excellence, or power.

One who follows or attends another for his support and aid; a backer; an assistant; specifically, one who acts as another's aid in a duel.

Aid; assistance; help.

An article of merchandise of a grade inferior to the best; esp., a coarse or inferior kind of flour.

The sixtieth part of a minute of time or of a minute of space, that is, the second regular subdivision of the degree; as, sound moves about 1,140 English feet in a second; five minutes and ten seconds north of this place.

The interval between any tone and the tone which is represented on the degree of the staff next above it.

A motion in support of another motion which has been moved in a deliberative body; a motion without a second dies without discussion.

To follow in the next place; to succeed; to alternate.

To follow or attend for the purpose of assisting; to support; to back; to act as the second of; to assist; to forward; to encourage.

To support, as a motion{6} or proposal, by adding one's voice to that of the mover or proposer.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

An indefinitely short time;

The fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near 2nd base

A particular point in time;

Following the first in an ordering or series;

A 60th part of a minute of arc;

The official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match

A speech seconding a motion;

The gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle;

Merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name

Give support or one's approval to;

Transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment;

Coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude

Coming next after first;

A part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first;

Having the second highest gear ratio;

In the second place;

Immediately following the first in order.

Alternate or another option.

In a lower position or lesser in importance.

No, it's always an adverb.

To introduce the second point in a list or argument.

It can indicate order, a time unit, or endorsement.

Less frequently, it’s more common in formal writing or speech.

No, it can also indicate order or support.

No, it remains the same in all contexts.

No, it's for ordering points or reasons.

To indicate position, as in finishing second.

Yes, as in endorsing a motion.

Yes, as in seconds for time or positions.

Yes, as in a second choice.

It's more formal and often used in structured arguments or lists.

Yes, particularly when enumerating points.

Yes, as in a second chance.

Yes, like next or furthermore, but they may slightly differ in usage.