Etymologically
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secundus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word secundus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Ennius
Ultimate origin
Latin (sequor)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɛˈkʊn.dʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [seˈkun.dus][1]

Forms

secundus (feminine secunda, neuter secundum, comparative secundior, superlative secundissimus); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is an old participle or gerundive of sequor “to follow”, from Proto-Italic *sekʷondo- (“following”), with the suffix of oriundus.[2][1][3] The meanings “favourable, fair” come from a wind or current that follows behind one.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ennius, who has secundō lūmine “on the following day”.[4][3] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

First it meant going along with one: of winds blowing in one's direction, favourable, as in Plautus, of sails and voyages, and of currents, as secundō flūmine “downstream”.[2] Of gods and fortune it meant supporting, propitious, as in Cicero, of omens favourable, and of outcomes successful, with rēs secundae “prosperity”.[2]

Then it meant following in order: the second, as in Plautus, second in battle line or in a race, the next, and secunda mēnsa “dessert”.[2] It meant a reserve, as hērēs secundus “substitute heir”, second-rate or inferior, and in Cicero secundae partēs “the second role”.[2] In medicine the feminine plural secundae was the afterbirth.[2]

It survives in French second, Italian secondo and Spanish segundo.[1] English second came through Old French about 1300.[5]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the following day.[3][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of favourable winds and as the ordinal.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of favourable gods and second roles.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English second is recorded.[5]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (of wind or current) Following, favourable, secundō flūmine, downstream.[2]
  2. Propitious, supportive, rēs secundae, prosperity.[2]
  3. Successful.[2]
  4. Second; next.[2]
  5. Reserve, substitute.[2]
  6. Second-rate, inferior.[2]
  7. (feminine plural, medicine) The afterbirth.[2]

Word family

  • insecundus
  • Secundānus
  • secundārius
  • secundicērius
  • secundō
  • secundum
  • secunda

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Secundus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/secundus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·