Where does “второстепенный” come from?

второстепенный (Russian) comes from Russian сте́пень, from Proto-Slavic *stepy — step?, stair?.

второстепенный (Russian): secondary, minor, of less importance

Definitions

  1. secondary, minor, of less importance

Ancestry of “второстепенный”, step by step

второстепенный traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian сте́пень

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianсте́пеньdegree
2Proto-Slavic*stepystep?, stair?

via Russian второ́й

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianвторо́йsecond
Every word from Proto-Slavic *stepyEvery word from Russian сте́пень