secondhand
|sec/ond/hand|
/ˈsɛkəndˌhænd/
previously owned
Etymology
'secondhand' originates from the combination of 'second' and 'hand', where 'second' meant 'following the first' and 'hand' referred to 'possession or ownership'.
'secondhand' evolved from the Middle English term 'secunde hand', which referred to items passed from one person to another.
Initially, it meant 'an item passed from one person to another', but over time it evolved to mean 'previously owned or used'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
previously owned or used by someone else.
She bought a secondhand car to save money.
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Adjective 2
not original; derived from another source.
He heard the news secondhand from a friend.
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Adverb 1
in a manner that is not firsthand; indirectly.
She learned about the event secondhand.
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Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39