thirdhand
Beyond the secondhand
Thirdhand describes information or goods that have passed through two intermediaries before reaching you.
If you heard something secondhand, you got it from someone who was there; thirdhand means another person stood between you and that witness: I only know thirdhand what happened at the meeting.
The term also applies to physical items that have had two previous owners.
Unverified secondhand information
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
- retoldNarrated anew
- relayedPassed on information
- indirectNot straight or immediate
filtered · distorted · unreliable · unconfirmed · uncorroborated · unsubstantiated · apocryphal · questionable
Informal talk spreading rumors
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
innuendo · speculation · buzz · grapevine · word-of-mouth · tale · story · account
Already been employed
- resaleSecond sale
- prelovedAlready owned once
- vintageQuality from past eras
- consignmentBatch delivered for selling
thrifted · recycled · recirculated · reused · pre-owned · inherited · donated · regifted
State of being unprotected
- residueMatter left behind
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
- absorbedTook in fully
surfaces · walls · fabric · toxins · carcinogens · indoor · pollutants · environmental
hearsay
Unverified secondhand information
- unverifiedNot yet proven true
- retoldNarrated anew
- relayedPassed on information
indirect · filtered · distorted · unreliable · unconfirmed · uncorroborated · unsubstantiated · apocryphal · questionable · dubious
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- scuttlebuttInformal rumor or speculation
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
hearsay · innuendo · speculation · buzz · grapevine · word-of-mouth · tale · story · account · report
used
Already been employed
consignment · thrifted · recycled · recirculated · reused · pre-owned · inherited · donated · regifted · well-traveled
exposure
State of being unprotected
- residueMatter left behind
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- lingeringRemaining beyond expected duration
absorbed · surfaces · walls · fabric · toxins · carcinogens · indoor · pollutants · environmental
threadbare
Worn until transparent
worn-out · faded · weathered · tired · shopworn · ragged · overused · dog-eared · well-worn · dilapidated
- evidentialshearsay, inferential, direct evidence, indirect evidence, eyewitness
thirdhandfirsthand
Without intermediary
direct · primary · eyewitness · original · unmediated
hand, handle, handy, hands, third, handed, secondhand, handler, handing