literary style; flavor of literary language
Refers to a style or tone characteristic of written, often classical or formal, Japanese. Used when describing text that sounds old-fashioned or bookish.
His writing has a literary style and feels a bit stiff.
This novel has many literary-style expressions and is hard to read.
文語体 refers specifically to the classical literary grammar and form, whereas 文語調 is more about the flavor or tone of literary language.
Compound of 文語 (literary language) and 調 (tone, style).