noun
one's last moments; hour of death
A somewhat literary or solemn word for the final moments of life. Often used in fixed expressions like 今わの際 (いまわのきわ).
彼は今わの際に家族の名前を呼んだ。
At the hour of his death, he called out his family's names.
今わの言葉を聞き逃すまいと耳
I strained my ears not to miss his last words.
最期 is a more common word for 'one's last moments' or 'deathbed'. 今わ is more literary and often appears in the set phrase 今わの際.
The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 今 (now) and 際 (verge, occasion) are conventionally associated with the meaning 'the verge of the present life', but the exact origin of the reading いまわ is unclear.