second-to-last
|sec-ond-to-last|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈsɛkənd tu læst/
🇬🇧
/ˈsɛkənd tə lɑːst/
next to last
Etymology
Etymology Information
'second-to-last' originates from the combination of 'second' and 'last', where 'second' meant 'following the first' and 'last' meant 'final'.
Historical Evolution
The phrase 'second-to-last' evolved from the need to describe a position just before the final one in a sequence.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'the one before the last', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
referring to the position immediately before the last in a sequence.
The second-to-last chapter of the book was the most exciting.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45