溘こう然ぜん

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

sudden; unexpected (especially of death)

Obsolete literary term, primarily used in classical texts to describe a sudden, unexpected death. Modern Japanese would use 突然 or 急死.

• 古こ典てんでは「溘こう然ぜんとして世よを去さる」のように使つかわれる。

  In classical texts, it is used like 'to pass away suddenly'.