adverb
Archaic adverb meaning 'so' or 'in that way'; in modern Japanese, そう or そのように are used instead. Found in classical literature and fixed expressions.
古語では、「然」を「さ」と読み、「そのように」の意味で使われた。
In classical Japanese, 然 was read as さ and used to mean 'in that way'.
Modern equivalent of 然 (さ); used in everyday speech for 'so' or 'like that'.
More formal modern equivalent; literally 'in that way'.
The historical derivation is uncertain; 然 is a kanji conventionally associated with the meaning 'so' or 'thus' in classical Chinese and Japanese.