different between vernier vs dernier

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French vernier. From Pierre Vernier, the inventor.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /?v?ni??/

Noun

vernier (plural verniers)

1. A secondary scale with finer graduations than the primary scale of a measuring device; the vernier measures between graduations of the larger scale.
2. A secondary control input with finer control than the primary, or coarse, input; for example the vernier frequency tuning knob on a radio.
3. (physics) A secondary system of force application for the attitude control of a spacecraft; for example a vernier thruster.

See also

• calipers
• nonius

Anagrams

• nervier, verrine

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French dernier, a contraction of derrenier, from Old French derrain (“final, last”) (by analogy with premier), from Vulgar Latin *d?retr?nus, from Latin d? (“from, away from”) + retr? (“back; backwards; behind”) + -?nus (“suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d??nje?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d?nje?/
• Hyphenation: der?nier

Adjective

dernier (not comparable)

1. (dated) Final, last.

Usage notes

The word often appears in the term dernier resort or (in French) dernier ressort (literally “last resort”), meaning the final court or authority to which a legal matter can be appealed.

Related terms

• darrein
• dernier cri

Translations

Anagrams

• nerdier

French

Etymology

From a contraction of earlier derrenier, a derivation of Old French derrain (through analogy with premier), itself derived from Vulgar Latin *d?retr?nus, from Latin d? + retr? + -?nus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??.nje/

Adjective

dernier (feminine singular dernière, masculine plural derniers, feminine plural dernières)

1. last
2. latest (most recent)
3. latter

Antonyms

• premier

Derived terms

Further reading

• “dernier” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).