godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
be face to face; sit opposite each other
Rare intransitive verb describing two people facing each other directly, often in a formal or tense situation. Modern Japanese more commonly uses 向かい合う or 対面する.
二人は差し向かって座り、話し始めた。
The two sat face to face and began to talk.
Rare kanji spelling; the word itself is uncommon.
Variant kanji spelling without okurigana し; even less common.
Compound of 差し (prefix adding directionality) + 向かう (to face). The exact historical development is uncertain, but it follows a pattern seen in other rare directional verbs.