noun, taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
loneliness; desolation
A literary word for a deep, quiet loneliness or desolate atmosphere, often used in written or poetic contexts. Can function as a noun, a taru-adjective (寂寥たる), or an adverb with と (寂寥と).
A desolate atmosphere hung over the winter field.
He felt loneliness amid the bustle of the city.
feeling of loneliness; feeling of desolation
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 寂 (lonely, quiet) and 寥 (lonely, sparse) combine to express a sense of profound stillness and emptiness.