secondhand

[ sek-uh nd-hand ]

/ ˈsɛk əndˈhænd /

not directly known or experienced; obtained from others or from books: Most of our knowledge is secondhand.

previously used or owned: secondhand clothes.

dealing in previously used goods: a secondhand bookseller.

after another user or owner: He bought it secondhand.

indirectly; at second hand: He heard the news secondhand.

Origin of secondhand

First recorded in 1645–55; second¹ + hand

sec·ond·hand·ed·ness, noun

“I think if anybody saw real fame first or secondhand, they would not want to pursue it at all,” says a somber Culkin.

The Revival of Kieran Culkin: A Reluctant Star Seizes the Spotlight |Marlow Stern |October 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But recently—more than three decades after my initial reading—I picked up a secondhand copy of the out-of-print book.

They Saw Our Sports Problem Coming |T.D. Thornton |September 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
However studies have found dangerous compounds like benzene and formaldehyde in inhaled or secondhand vapor.

E-Cigarettes, Facing Ban, Still Figuring Out What They Want to Be |Alex Halperin |December 19, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Nearly as outrageous was the $2,000 some early buyers were reselling their tickle-me toys for on secondhand markets.

Eight Biggest Elmo Scandals: Kevin Clash, Katy Perry & More (VIDEO) |Kevin Fallon |November 14, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

Parties desiring a good, secondhand oleander tub, with castors on it, will do well to give us a call before going elsewhere.

Remarks |Bill Nye
It will almost certainly be tinted, it may even be saturated, with the secondhand archaic.

Anticipations |Herbert George Wells
He keeps a secondhand bookshop, you know, and he's positively insulting to customers who try to buy any of the books.

Betty Gordon in Washington |Alice B. Emerson
The illustration is a good one; I have no doubt that it is obtained, directly or at secondhand, from Boethius.

Chaucer's Works, Volume 3 (of 7) |Geoffrey Chaucer
This has been your area of study and the program is carefully planned so you can study it secondhand.

The K-Factor |Harry Harrison (AKA Henry Maxwell Dempsey)