Lexic.us

Definition of Second-guess

1. Verb. Attempt to anticipate or predict.

Definition of Second-guess

1. Verb. (idiomatic) to attempt to predict or anticipate. ¹

2. Verb. (idiomatic) (American English) to vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Second-guess

Literary usage of Second-guess

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research by Society for Psychical Research, Edmund Gurney (1884)
"We now tried numbers of two figures, and where a second ' guess' was given it is ... 58 24 36 36 27 72 On a second guess. 27 28 „ „ ' 82 100 100 42 42 55 . ..."

2. English Mechanic and World of Science: With which are Incorporated "the (1883)
"... but out of ten cards, in the example set out at length by the Society, only one •was guessed right at first, and only one snore at the second guess. ..."

3. Air Power and Desert Storm by Richard B. Clark (1993)
"In any event, it is inappropriate to second-guess the actions of officials who, at a very difficult time in American history, surely did what they thought ..."

4. Mind-reading and Beyond by William Alfred Hovey (1885)
"58 24 36 36 27 72 On a second guess, 27. 69 28 " " 82. IOO 100 42 42 55 55 22 79 " " 97- 38 38 30 42 " " 78. 22 120 " " 20. " Here 5 were right the first ..."

5. Principles of Electrical Engineering by William Henry Timbie, Vannevar Bush (1922)
"In this manner we obtain as a second guess 59000 lines for the flux. Computing as before we find that this corresponds to 374 gilberts. ..."

6. Communicating and Interacting with People Who Have Disabilities by DIANE Publishing Company (1996)
"DON'T SECOND GUESS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING Don't second guess what people are saying by finishing their sentences. Allow a person with a speech impairment ..."

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