Definition of secondary
- a. - Suceeding next in order to the first; of second place,
origin, rank, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first
order or rate.
- a. - Acting by deputation or delegated authority; as, the
work of secondary hands.
- a. - Possessing some quality, or having been subject to some
operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary
salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.
- a. - Subsequent in origin; -- said of minerals produced by
alteertion or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original
rocks mass; also of characters of minerals (as secondary cleavage,
etc.) developed by pressure or other causes.
- a. - Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
- a. - Dependent or consequent upon another disease; as,
Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever. (b) Occuring in
the second stage of a disease; as, the secondary symptoms of syphilis.
- n. - One who occupies a subordinate, inferior, or auxiliary
place; a delegate deputy; one who is second or next to the chief
officer; as, the secondary, or undersheriff of the city of London.
- n. - A secondary circle.
- n. - A satellite.
- n. - A secondary quill.