secondary English · revision 4741

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1382|origins=la secundarius}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈsek.ən.dər.i/, /ˈsek.ən.dri/, US /ˈsek.ən.der.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|secundarie]], [[bor|la|secundārius|t=of the second class or quality, inferior]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from secundus “second”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) with influence from Old French secondaire.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) It is related to [[second]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a lower kind (1382), and belonging to the second class in importance, not chief (1386): in the OED;^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Second best in quality is from 1428,^(OED 1989) and of an official, second in rank, from about 1450.^(OED 1989) The noun, a thing of secondary importance, is from the mid-15th century, and a deputy from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) Subsidiary or auxiliary is from 1751.^(OED 1989) Of characteristics peculiar to one sex but not needed for reproduction it is from 1780,^(Etymonline) of schools and education from 1809,^(Etymonline) and of colours, under the old theory of three primary colours, from 1831.^(Etymonline) In American football the ''secondary'' is the defensive backfield, by 1955.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – of a lower kind.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1386 – second in importance.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – noun, a thing of lesser importance.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – noun, a deputy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1780 – ''secondary sex characteristics''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1809 – of schools.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1831 – of colours.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1955 – in American football.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Less important than something else; [[minor]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Coming from or caused by something else that is [[primary]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of [[education]] or a school, for pupils between about 11 and 18.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+ # Of a colour, made by mixing two primary colours.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that is secondary or subordinate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # One of the shorter flight feathers on the inner part of a bird's wing.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(American football)'' The defensive backfield.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[secondarily]]

+ * [[secondariness]]

+ * [[secondary root]]

+ * [[secondary color]]

+ * [[secondary emission]]

+ * [[secondary cell]]

+ * [[secondary intention]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[second]]

+ * [[primary]]

+ * [[tertiary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}