Dernier : adj. et n. (word coming from the old French derrain, from the popular Latin deretranus, family of retro: behind).
The word “last” has many meanings:
I) Temporal, spatial meaning:
A) After which there is no other
1) Adj. before the noun: Which comes after all the others.
December is the twelfth and last month of theannée.
Last train. Last edition (of the day).
Latest news. Last I heard, he's been promoted.
To be at its last hour; breathe one last breath.
To the last extremity (extreme, ultimate).
Last chance, last card.
On the last page (end).
The last step of a staircase. The last floor. The last house before leaving the village.
Do something for the last time. It's not the first time and it won't be the last.
Read a book to the last page.
Putting the finishing touches to a job.
Spend every penny.
Let's take one last . Elliptical: Just one small latest ! (for the road).
Make a last (supreme) effort.
To have the last word.
In the last analysis, in the last place, in the last resort.
The last minute, the one after which the granted time has elapsed. Arrive at the last moment.
After the name: Last Judgment.
Attribute: He is last, he came last.
2. Nominal: Walking last (closing, closing the march; close in line).
It's the last in line. He is in the bottom five.
The first will be the last (Biblical allusion).
To be the bottom of the class, the one awarded the last place.
The last of a family, the youngest (youngest, last-born).
The very last. They were killed to the last.
"The Last of the Mohicans", novel by James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851).
A war is always the last of the wars (colloquial: La der des ders).
The last of my worries (youngest).
3. Adverbial phrase: last: at the end, after all the others. I'll take care of him last. To be served last.
B. Close in time
1. Who is closest to the present (recent) moment.
Lately. Breaking news. The last war.
His latest film has just been released.
Dress in the latest fashion; it's the latest thing.
Nominal: Latest.
Phrase: He was not born yesterday.
Nominal: Yes, replied the latter, the one we just talked about.
Familiar: Don't you know the last one? is said to someone to inform them of an event that has just occurred.
Last year, last year, last Wednesday (past).
2. Previous. The last owner moved abroad. The last record holder was Russian.
II) Qualitative meaning: Extreme
1. The highest, the greatest. To the last point, to the last degree.
Protest with the last energy. This is the ultimate rudeness!
It's the latest chic.
2. The lower, the worse. A commodity of the last quality, of the last choice, of the last order.
Nominal He's the last of the fools.
Region : (Belgium) Familiar: the last of everything: the height, the end of everything.
Opposites of last: initial, first. Future, next.