noun
extremely cold; biting cold
Rare literary word describing intense cold, often used in classical or poetic contexts. Not used in everyday conversation; modern equivalents include 極寒 (ごっかん) or 非常に寒い.
冽々たる寒気が身を刺す。
The biting cold pierces the body.
この小説には「冽々」という古めかしい表現が出てくる。
This novel contains the old-fashioned expression 冽々.
Formal or literary term for severe cold, more common than 冽々 but still somewhat stiff.
Reduplication of 冽 (cold, freezing), a kanji of uncertain origin but associated with coldness. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word is a rare literary coinage.