Second vs Following - What's the difference?
second | following |
Number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them. The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two.
* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=20 Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.
* Landor
Being of the same kind as one that has preceded; another.
* Shakespeare
(with superlative) At the second rank.
After the first occurrence but before the third occurrence.
One that is number two in a series.
One that is next in rank, quality, precedence, position, status, or authority.
The place that is next below first in a race or contest.
(usually in the plural) A manufactured item that, though still usable, fails to meet quality control standards.
(usually in the plural) 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.)
* 2003 , Sheila Ryan Wallace,
*:The policeman smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Now if you'll follow me, I'll escort you to the Victoria."
"Oh, there's no need of that. If you'll just point me in the right direction..."
That's what got you in trouble the first time around. You don't need a second .
*2009 , Paulette Jiles,
*:Smoky Joe ran against a Houston horse named Cherokee Chief.
“Don't hit him,” Jeanine said to the jockey. “Maybe once. But you don't get a second .”
* 2011 , Karen Miller,
(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 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; one-sixtieth of a minute.
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a minute of arc or one part in 3600 of a degree.
A short, indeterminate amount of time.
(UK) To transfer temporarily to alternative employment.
* 1998 — , (Dreamstone Moon) , ch 9
To assist or support; to back.
* Shakespeare
* Alexander Pope
To agree as a second person to (a proposal), usually to reach a necessary quorum of two.
To follow in the next place; to succeed.
* Fuller
* South
To climb after a lead climber.
One who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant.
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One who agrees in addition, or such a motion, as required in certain meetings to pass judgement etc.
(obsolete) Aid; assistance; help.
* J. Fletcher
Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
* 1835 , Sir , Sir (James Clark Ross),
About to be specified.
(of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.
A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=September 29
, author=Jon Smith
, title=Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
, work=BBC Sport
Something to be mentioned immediately later. Used with the definite article the .
Vocation; business; profession.
As adjectives the difference between second and following
is that second is number-two; following after the first one with nothing between them the ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number two while following is coming next, either in sequence or in time.As nouns the difference between second and following
is that second is one that is number two in a series or second can be 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; one-sixtieth of a minute or second can be one who supports another in a contest or combat, such as a dueller's assistant while following is a group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.As an adverb second
is (with superlative) at the second rank.As a verb second
is (uk) to transfer temporarily to alternative employment.As a preposition following is
after, subsequent to.second
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) second, from (etyl) .Adjective
(-)citation, passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.
- May the day when we become the second people upon earth be the day of our utter extirpation.
- A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!
Alternative forms
* (number-two) , IInd; (in names of monarchs and popes) IISynonyms
* (nonstandard) (l)Derived terms
* secondary * second amendment * second base * second baseman * second-best * second cousin * second fiddle * second-guess * second hand * second imperative (Latin grammar) * second-in-command * second nature * second-storey manAdverb
(-)- Saturn is the second largest planet.
- He is batting second today.
Noun
(en noun)- They were discounted because they contained blemishes, nicks or were otherwise factory seconds .
- That was good barbecue. I hope I can get seconds .
The Sea Captain and His Ladies, page 22:
"Oh, there's no need of that. If you'll just point me in the right direction..."
That's what got you in trouble the first time around. You don't need a second .
Stormy Weather, page 37:
“Don't hit him,” Jeanine said to the jockey. “Maybe once. But you don't get a second .”
The Innocent Mage:
- I'll have one chance to show them that's no longer true. One chance ... and if I stumble, I'll not get a second .
Etymology 2
From (etyl)Alternative forms
* (SI unit of time) (abbreviations) s, sec; (symbols) s (SI and non-scientific usage), sec (in non-scientific usage only) * (unit of angle) (abbreviations) arcsec,Noun
(en noun)- I'll be there in a second .
Synonyms
* (unit of angle) second of arc, arcsecond * (colloquial) sec *Derived terms
* leap second * millisecond * nanosecondEtymology 3
From (etyl)Verb
(en verb)- Daniel had still been surprised, however, to find the lab area deserted, all the scientists apparently seconded by Cleomides's military friends.
- We have supplies to second our attempt.
- In human works though laboured on with pain, / A thousand movements scarce one purpose gain; / In God's, one single can its end produce, / Yet serves to second too some other use.
- I second the motion.
- In the method of nature, a low valley is immediately seconded with an ambitious hill.
- Sin is seconded with sin.
Derived terms
* secondment * secondeeNoun
(en noun)- If we want the motion to pass, we will need a second .
- Give second , and my love / Is everlasting thine.
External links
(disambig) * (projectlink) * (projectlink) (time) * * (projectlink)following
English
Adjective
(-)Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5
- Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
Usage notes
(Senses 1, 2) When it modifies a noun phrase, it is generally preceded by the definite article the'', and the combination functions as a determiner rather than a simple adjective. You can put it before a cardinal like ''the following two remarks'' instead of ''the two following remarks .Antonyms
* abovementioned * aforementioned * aforesaidNoun
(en noun)- He had a loyal following .
citation, page= , passage=And White Hart Lane was stunned when Rovers scored just five minutes after the restart in front of their away following .}}
- The following is a recommendation letter from the president.