vis-à-vis

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Preposition 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Translations 1.5 Adjective 1.5.1 Translations 1.6 Adverb 1.6.1 Translations 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Adverb 2.2.1 Synonyms 2.3 Noun 2.3.1 Synonyms 2.4 Derived terms 3 German 3.1 Alternative spellings 3.2 Preposition 3.2.1 Synonyms

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From French vis-à-vis 'face to face'.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /vi:z.ɑːˈvi:/, /vi:z.æˈvi:/
• (US) IPA: /viz.ɑˈvi/, /viz.əˈvi/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file},  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Preposition

vis-à-vis

1. In relation to; compared with;

   Canada's role vis-à-vis the United States' in Afghanistan

2. Opposite, across from, set so as to be facing.

   He was seated vis-à-vis the president.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

vis-à-vis (plural vis-à-vis)

1. (historical) A small horse-drawn carriage for two people sitting facing each other.
   • 1761, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, vol. 3, Penguin 2003, p. 188:

     there is not a greater difference between a single-horse chair and madam Pompadour’s vis a vis, than betwixt a single amour, and an amour thus nobly doubled

2. One of two (or more) people facing or opposite each other during a formal dance, at a dinner table etc.
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘The Daughter of the Regiment’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio Society 2005, p. 136:

     That was what Miss McKenna said, and the Sergeant who was my vis-à-vis looked the same thing.

3. A date or escort in a social event.

   Have you seen Mary's vis-à-vis before?

4. A person holding a corresponding position in another organisation; a counterpart.

   I talked with my vis-à-vis in the French embassy.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

vis-à-vis (not comparable)

1. face-to-face

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adverb

vis-à-vis

1. face to face (with another)
2. (archaic) In a position facing a specified or implied subject.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /vizavi/

[edit] Adverb

vis-à-vis

1. (archaic) Facing, face-to-face.

[edit] Synonyms

• face à face

[edit] Noun

vis-à-vis m. (plural vis-à-vis)

1. A meeting, especially a private one.
2. A position where two things face each others.

   Les maisons sont en vis-à-vis. The houses face each other.

3. An equivalent.
   • 1886, Auguste Villiers de L’Isle-Adam, L'Ève future, XVII. Dissection,

     Quoi de plus attristant, de plus dissolvant que l’abominable être qu’on nomme une « femme d’esprit », si ce n’est son vis-à-vis, le beau parleur ? What is worse, more dissolving than this abomination called the "spiritual woman", if not its equivalent, the "beau parleur"?

4. (rare) What faces someone or something, such as a view or the person seated in front.
5. (historical) A type of S-shaped couch or sofa that allows people to be seated face-to-face.

[edit] Synonyms

• (meeting): tête-à-tête
• (equivalent): homologue

[edit] Derived terms

• vis-à-vis de

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[edit] German

[edit] Alternative spellings

• vis-a-vis

[edit] Preposition

vis-à-vis

1. vis-à-vis

[edit] Synonyms

• gegenüber