secondhand — previously owned or used by someone else; not new
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: previously owned or used by someone else; not new
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsekəndˌhænd/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's secondhand wisdom is worth more than any new advice.
- He became a millionaire by flipping secondhand furniture he found at garage sales.
- She refused to buy secondhand wedding dresses, saying 'I don't want someone else's marital luck!'
secondhand
ADJECTIVE[/ˈsekəndˌhænd/]
previously owned or used by someone else; not new
He proudly carries a secondhand guitar from the dusty shop downtown.
When you understand secondhand value, quality will always be in demand!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term emerged in the 16th century as a literal compound meaning 'second hand.' It describes goods that have passed from an initial owner to a subsequent owner, originally used to denote items that have changed hands once before.
Breakdown
second (ordinal numeral, 'next in order') + hand (the physical hand, figuratively representing ownership or possession). The compound literally means 'passing through a second person's ownership.'
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's secondhand wisdom is worth more than any new advice.”
“He became a millionaire by flipping secondhand furniture he found at garage sales.”
“She refused to buy secondhand wedding dresses, saying 'I don't want someone else's marital luck!'”
“The detective realized all his evidence was secondhand and wouldn't hold up in court.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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