狭さ

prefix

narrow; thin; small

Prefix used in a limited set of words to indicate narrowness, thinness, or smallness. Not freely productive; appears mainly in established compounds like 狭霧 (さぎり, mist) or 狭間 (さま, gap).

• 「狭さ霧ぎり」の「狭さ」は、細こまかい霧きりを表あらわす接せっ頭とう語ごです。

  The 狭 in 狭霧 is a prefix expressing fine mist.

• 古こ語ごでは「狭さ」を「さ」と読よみ、狭せまいことを示しめす接せっ頭とう語ごとして使つかわれた。

  In classical Japanese, 狭 was read as さ and used as a prefix meaning narrow.