How did the word "second" come to mean both "after first" and "one sixtieth of a minute"?

Question

How did the word "second" come to mean both "after first" and "one sixtieth of a minute"?

Answer 1

The Babylonians divided the circle(clock hour ) into six parts, each equal to the angle of an equilateral triangle, which was divided into 60 degrees. Each degree was divided into 60 smaller parts, and so on.

The first division of the degree was called a minute, from the Latin "pars minuta", meaning "small part" which is first level of division.

One sixtieth of a minute was called a second from Latin "pars minuta secunda", because it was the 2nd level of division.

Thus, any value or division after first level is termed as second.

Answer 2

ummmmm

dont ask me

Answer 3

Both come from the Latin "secundus" meaning following, next in order.

For a second of time, this is an abbreviation of 'secunda pars minuta' – the second diminished part of an hour. An hour is divided (diminished) into 60 'prime minutes'. One sixtieth of a minute was the 'second' division of the hour and it became known by that name.

It also applies in geometry where a circle is divided into 360 degrees. One sixtieth of a degree is a minute (first or prime division) and one sixtieth of a minute is the second (division).

Answer 4

I'm not sure if this explains it, but apparently "second" meaning "after first" is from the Latin, "secundus," meaning "following, next in order."

"Second" as a measure of time is from French, an abbreviated form of "secunda pars minuta," or "second diminished part," the result of the second division of the hour by sixty.  (The first division is the minute.)