also: ごつぜん
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
towering; looming
Describes something standing tall and imposing, often with a sense of solitary prominence. Rare literary usage.
山が兀然とそびえている。
The mountain towers loftily.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
standing motionlessly; still
Describes a person or thing standing completely still, as if rooted to the spot. Rare literary usage.
彼は兀然と立ち尽くしていた。
He stood there motionlessly.
The kanji 兀 means 'high and level' or 'towering', and 然 is a suffix forming adjectives/adverbs. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word is a rare literary term.