taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
gasping; breathless; faintly breathing
Literary or classical word describing weak, labored breathing, often in a state of near-death or extreme exhaustion. Commonly appears in the set phrase 気息奄奄 (きそくえんえん).
See also: 気息奄々
気息奄奄として、今にも消え入りそうだった。
He was gasping faintly, as if his breath might stop at any moment.
A set phrase meaning 'gasping for breath; at one's last gasp.' 奄奄 is rarely used alone outside this compound.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 奄 means 'cover' or 'feeble,' and the reduplicated form 奄奄 is a literary Chinese-derived expression for weak, gasping breath.