What does the French expression 'Vis-à-vis' literally mean?

I thought of "visage to visage", even though I may be incorrect in my interpretation of the word.

I think that’s Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.

Two meanings 1) face to face, I'd like to discuss it vis a vis. 2) 'with reference to'; eg, a hook, vis a vis golf, is a shot that swings to the golfers direction after striking

In Germany this Expression is used to mean across from.