seconding

Pluralsecondings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of second.

   The committee member is seconding the proposal before debate begins.

   Seconding a motion means you agree it should be discussed.

   Note

   One spelling carries every verb sense of second: backing a motion, supporting someone, climbing behind a lead climber, and, in British use, lending staff to another post. As a participle it follows be (she is seconding the motion). As a gerund it can take an object directly (seconding the motion was a formality). Once it takes a plural, secondings, it has become the noun for backing a motion or the noun for a temporary transfer.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   In meetings, formal support from a second person for a proposal or motion someone else has made.

   The chair could not proceed until the proposal received seconding from another member.

   Parliamentary rules require seconding before a motion can be debated.

   Similarsupport, backing, endorsement

   Oppositeopposition

   Note

   Each act of backing can be counted, so a body can tally its secondings alongside its nominations. The American Philatelist of 1973 reports both concluded for a society's election of officers, which shows the word reaching beyond motions to candidates. Used uncountably, it names the requirement itself: a motion simply needs seconding before it can go forward.

3. 3
   Saysi-KOND-ingUS/sɪˈkɑndɪŋ/UK/sɪˈkɒndɪŋ/

   nouncountable or uncountable

   Temporary transfer of a person from their normal duties to a different assignment.

   The engineer's seconding to the research division ended after a year.

   Staff often request seconding to gain experience in other departments.

   Similarsecondment, transfer, posting, attachment

   Note

   The word can name a stage of training as well as a staffing move. The New Law Journal in 1993 describes students who had to complete two secondings before taking a case on their own. It counts naturally (a first seconding, two secondings) and takes to for the destination, as in a seconding to the research division.

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