Time for another word brought to us by Shakespeare!
This time, we’re looking at seconds. Now, first, note the -s on the end of the word. We’re not talking here about second, but about seconds…and we don’t mean the measure of time. 😉
The meaning that Shakespeare coined for us in one of his sonnets circa 1600 is “articles below the first in quality.” So think of items pulled from production that aren’t quite up to full quality so are sold at a discount. Shakespeare first used this as an extension of the natural meaning of “following the first” and it stuck!
Now, maybe your favorite meaning of seconds is a second helping. (I mean…) If so, then you should know that that meaning dates from 1792. So we can’t thank Shakespeare for that one, but that’s no reason not to enjoy it. In fact, I’m going back for seconds on my coffee right now…
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Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 
So surprised! I thought you’d tell us about how those who dual choose their “seconds.” But maybe it is the same…next after first. 🤔🤷🏼♀️
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That meaning is derived from that yes, more directly from “second in authority.” It dates from the 1580s. =)