secundines: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Obscure/Technical)Formal, Medical, Historical, Technical (Obstetrics/Veterinary Medicine)
Quick answer
What does “secundines” mean?
The afterbirth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The afterbirth; specifically, the placenta and fetal membranes expelled from the uterus after childbirth.
In broader or historical usage, can sometimes refer to something that follows or is secondary in importance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical and equally obscure in both varieties. The term is more likely to be encountered in older British medical texts or in veterinary medicine in both regions.
Connotations
Highly clinical, historical, or literary. No significant difference in connotation between UK and US English.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both dialects. 'Afterbirth' is the universal everyday and common medical term.
Grammar
How to Use “secundines” in a Sentence
The veterinarian monitored the animal for expulsion of the secundines.Retained secundines can lead to infection.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical medical texts, certain anthropology papers, or specialized veterinary science publications.
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Afterbirth' is the standard term.
Technical
Primary context is veterinary obstetrics or historical/archaic medical discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “secundines”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “secundines”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a secundine'). It is almost exclusively plural.
- Using it in non-medical contexts where it would not be understood.
- Misspelling as 'secondines'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly technical. The common word is 'afterbirth'.
Almost never. It is a plural noun (like 'scissors' or 'trousers') referring to the composite materials of the afterbirth.
Historians of medicine, authors of historical fiction, or veterinarians dealing with birthing animals might encounter it. It is not used in modern human obstetrics.
It comes from the Latin 'secundinae' meaning 'the afterbirth', from 'secundus' meaning 'following, second'.
The afterbirth.
Secundines is usually formal, medical, historical, technical (obstetrics/veterinary medicine) in register.
Secundines: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkəndaɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛkənˌdaɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SECOND' comes after 'FIRST' (the baby). The SECUNDINES are the secondary delivery after the primary one (the baby).
Conceptual Metaphor
FOLLOWERS / REMAINDERS (Something that follows and is of lesser, though necessary, importance).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'secundines' MOST likely to be found today?