seconde

American  

[si-kond, suh-gawnd] / sɪˈkɒnd, səˈgɔ̃d /

noun

Fencing.

plural

secondes

1. the second of the eight defensive positions.

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seconde British  

/ səɡɔ̃d, sɪˈkɒnd /

noun

1. the second of eight positions from which a parry or attack can be made in fencing

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Etymology

Origin of seconde

1680–90; < French, feminine of second second ¹

Example Sentences

And Michael de la Nuez, while spinning in a pirouette à la seconde, suddenly sliced his free leg backward and forward.

From New York Times • Jul. 8, 2022

They did a double à la seconde turn, one leg whipping out to the side in the middle of each swift revolution, followed by a triple pirouette dropping into a split.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2017

And all of this is expressed in a pirouette à la seconde, a step which, to a dancer of McRae's accomplishment, can be dashed off almost without thought.

From The Guardian • Dec. 26, 2010

Please observe these grand ports de bras, this slow développé la seconde.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2010

Buried Creature, daughter of Agnes Mathews, syngle woman, the seconde childe.

From Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature by Bardsley, Charles W.