dernier, a.
(ˈdɜːnɪə(r), ‖ dɛrnje)
[a. F. dernier:—OF. derrenier, deriv. of derrein: see darrein. The suffix is as in prem-ier, L. prīm-ārius.]
a. Last; ultimate, final.
| 1602 R. T. Five Godlie Serm. 45 The latter day..wherein we must take our dernier adewe. a 1688 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Chances, Sir, I am in the derniere confusion to avow, that [etc.]. a 1734 North Lives I. 109 While this dernier writ of error hung in the House of Lords undetermined. 1751 Mrs. E. Heywood Betsy Thoughtless I. 149 Every thing but the dernier undoing deed. 1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) III. 96 On how many chances did this dernier hope hang! |
b. dernier resort (now always in F. form dernier ressort): last resort; orig. (in reference to legal jurisdiction) the last tribunal or court to which appeal can be made, that which has the power of final decision; hence, a last or final resource or refuge.
| 1641 Abp. Williams Sp. in Apol. Bishops (1661) 89 Here I have fixt my Areopagus, and dernier resort, being not like to make any further appeal. a 1709 Atkyns Parl. & Pol. Tracts (1734) 97 The High Court of Parliament is the dernier Resort. 1709 Refl. Sacheverell's Serm. 3 The People..were the dernier Resort of Justice and Dominion. 1711 Vind. Sacheverell 73 The Pretender is your dernier Resort. 1778 Fothergill in Phil. Trans. LXIX. 2, I recommended, as a dernier resort, a trial of electricity. 1792 J. Belknap Hist. New-Hampshire III. 256 The dernier resort was to a court of appeals, consisting of the Governor and Council. 1893 Nation (N.Y.) 9 Feb. 111/1 The word elementum..hithertofore, as a dernier ressort, has been referred in some way to alimentum. |
c. le (or the) dernier cri [Fr., lit. ‘the last cry’]: the very latest fashion. Also in predicative use and (without article) attrib.
| 1896 Westm. Gaz. 10 Dec. 3/2 At a moment when cut-steel is le dernier cri. 1903 Lady's Realm XIV. 407/1 The shade par excellence for grey Father Thames is scarlet; in Paris this is the dernier cri. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 13 June 6/7 There was a time when the lisp was, so to speak, the ‘dernier cri’. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 249 Henry and James's wax smartsuited freshcheeked models, the gentlemen Henry, dernier cri James. 1928 Daily Express 16 June 5/5 That is why they wear hats and gowns that they are told are le dernier cri. Ibid. 9 Nov. 5/4 Any old necklace can be made modern and ‘dernier cri’. 1960 Times 8 Jan. 13/6 The drabness of much dernier cri music. |
d. dernier mot: the last word (see word n. 25).
| 1834 J. S. Mill in Monthly Repos. VIII. 311 Propositions..are put forth with an air of authority,..as if they were the dernier mot of some great question. 1905 To-Day 8 Mar. 175/2 One would have thought this group the dernier mot of singing. 1937 S. Spender Forward from Liberalism 94 Private property..and inheritance, appeared to me..the dernier mot of legislation. |