dernier mot

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dɛʁ.nje mo/

Verb

dernier mot m (usually uncountable, plural derniers mots)

1. last word (the final statement uttered by a person before death)

   ne pas avoir dit son dernier mot ― not to have given up, to still be in the game

   Synonym: dernières paroles

2. last word (concluding remark; final advice, instructions, or observation)
3. last word (a final offer or demand, as in an ultimatum)
   • 1724 William Wynne: The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins, Judge of the High-Court of Admiralty

     . . . Thirdly, That they, the Dutch, 5 or 6 Weeks after they had received these Letters, (of 12th of July) call’d for an Ultimatum, so they termed the dernier mot, from us; and that we gave our Ultimatum to the Mediators first by Word of Mouth in August, then on the 5th of September, N. S. in writing.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

4. last word (a final decision or remark, or the right to make one)

   avoir le dernier mot ― to have the last word

   Synonym: mot de la fin