Ashley suggests the following apply to definitions of a second:

As an ordinal, ‘second’ is, depending on intonation, either ‘good but not best’ as in coming in second to win silver ... or derisively as in ‘second-rate’ not worthy of consideration.

But when defined by Lou Costello, ‘Second’ is that which ‘What’s on’. So second could be ‘what’s happening at the moment’ However, if ‘what’s on’ is meant as ‘what one is wearing’, a second to an artist’s Life Model would mean nothing.

So, depending on the context, ‘second’ could be (1) an also-ran rating, (2) a degrading dismissal, (3) an up-beat assessment or (4) a stripping away of dignity.

On second thought, it could be a reflection.

When informed she’d won a music award, Jenny could not have been prouder. For the competition last month she’d done an a cappella version of “Swing Low,” and Mr. Murph and everyone at school said she’d killed it. Now at the ceremony in the Hyatt Regency, she was only a little disappointed to find she’d been a runner up. Only the first-place winners received trophies on the stage. The other trophies, they said, would be delivered to the rooms later that afternoon. At least she didn’t have to make a speech.