What is "second estate"

Second \Sec"ond\, a. [F., fr. L. secundus second, properly, following, fr. sequi to follow. See Sue to follow, and cf. Secund.]

1. Immediately following the first; next to the first in order of place or time; hence, occurring again; another; other.

   And he slept and dreamed the second time.
   --Gen. xli. 5.

2. Next to the first in value, power, excellence, dignity, or rank; secondary; subordinate; inferior.

   May the day when we become the second people upon earth . . . be the day of our utter extirpation.
   --Landor.

3. Being of the same kind as another that has preceded; another, like a prototype; as, a second Cato; a second Troy; a second deluge.

   A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!
   --Shak.

   Second Adventist. See Adventist.

   Second cousin, the child of a cousin.

   Second-cut file. See under File.

   Second distance (Art), that part of a picture between the foreground and the background; -- called also middle ground, or middle distance. [R.]

   Second estate (Eng.), the House of Peers.

   Second girl, a female house-servant who does the lighter work, as chamber work or waiting on table.

   Second intention. See under Intention.

   Second story, Second floor, in America, the second range of rooms from the street level. This, in England, is called the first floor, the one beneath being the ground floor.

   Second thought or Second thoughts, consideration of a matter following a first impulse or impression; reconsideration.

   On second thoughts, gentlemen, I don't wish you had known him.
   --Dickens.

n. the second estate of the realm: the nobility (especially British nobility) of the rank of duke or marquess or earl or viscount or baron [syn: lords temporal]