"Viz-a-vis" is a borrowed word that seems unusual in Russia. Properly using it in a speech, you can surprise the interlocutor with your erudition. In addition, "vis-a-vis" has several meanings and, if necessary, can replace several terms or concepts, as well as most accurately describe any situation. It remains only to figure out where the “vis-a-vis” came from, and what does this word mean?
Origin
How many words came into Russian from French! This happened, of course, not because of the poverty of the great and mighty. This is due to the fashion of the Russian nobility of the 18th-19th centuries for the French language, which came instead of the fashion for German (at that time a decent nobleman might not know his native language, but he had to be able to speak French). And, of course, the war of 1812, after which the language of ordinary, humble Russian people was enriched with borrowings (what is the word "sharomyzhnik" worth).
"Vis-a-vis" - what does this word mean? In French, it is written as vis-à-vis and literally translates as "face to face." That is, it means the situationwhen two people are quite close to each other and can see each other.
The meaning of "vis-a-vis"
The literal meaning of the word is almost never used in Russian speech, because in Russia it has undergone many changes.
Originally, "vis-a-vis" was used to refer to the part of the dance when both partners are facing each other. Over time, of course, other meanings appeared. For example, this is how they began to call a small carriage in which passengers sit opposite each other by adding additional passenger seats.
Also, "vis-a-vis" can be an appeal. This can be called a stranger who is currently talking to you or has previously had a face-to-face conversation with you. And also, a counterpart can be called a person with whom you are talking, but whose name you don’t know or don’t remember.
And what does this word, "vis-a-vis", mean in a figurative sense? Most often, this is what the opposition is called, that is, the term is suitable for describing a situation where one person opposes another, being his opponent or opponent. This can be said about duelists, and about enemies, or even about opponents in the discussion.
The last variant of use in our time is most common and, perhaps, if you have ever heard this word, then it was used precisely in the meaning of "opponent".
Examples of usage
The best way to remember what the word "vis-a-vis" means is to look at examples of its use. Below arevariants of usage taken from the literature.
Now the counterpart of Atanarix on the other side of the Danube was an uncouth warrior named Valens - the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire. these toasts from German to Russian and from Russian to German, we got to know our little counterpart and even got to talking.
Jame Crean silently stared at the pale, expressionless face of his counterpart, then meekly sighed and handed him back a hundred standards.
King
You send something back
Yes, stay with him vis-a-vis, And you will suffer a little -
It will even come to love!
By the way, his counterpart with a black eye patch is also a celebrity, and in the same vein: Gaston Montjusso, the first sword of France.
Now you know the meaning of the word "vis-a-vis" and you can safely use it in your speech.
