n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] A gatepost or doorpost. [ Local Eng. ] C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Dearn, a. ] 1. Hidden; concealed; secret. [ Obs. ] “Ye must be full dern.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Solitary; sad. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a. ] To hide; to skulk. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth. H. Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [ Obs. ] “Dernful noise.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein. ] Last; final. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dernier ressort ety>[ F. ], last resort or expedient. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]