secondary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   not of major importance

   played a secondary role in world events

2. 2
   adj

   depending on or incidental to what is original or primary

   a secondary infection

3. 3
   adj

   Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body.

   the work of secondary hands

4. 4
   adj

   Developed by pressure or other causes.

   secondary cleavage

5. 5
   adj

   Dependent or consequent upon another disease, or occurring in the second stage of a disease.

   Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.

6. 6
   adj

   Of less than primary importance.

   a secondary issue

7. 7
   adj

   Formed by mixing primary colors.

   Yellow is a secondary light color, though a primary CMYK color.

8. 8
   adj

   Representing a reversion to an ancestral state.

   With the exception of a secondary loss in Dimecoenia, larvae of Ephydrini have prominent, ventral prolegs that bear crochets.

Etymology

From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the Italian secondario, the Occitan secundari, the Portuguese secundario, and the Spanish secundario.