恟きょう々きょう

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

scared; afraid; trembling with fear

Formal or literary term describing a state of fear or trepidation. Used as a 'taru' adjective or adverb with と. Extremely rare in modern Japanese; encountered only in classical or highly stylized writing.

• 古こ典てんの一いっ節せつに「恟きょう々きょうとして声こえも出でず」とある。

  A passage in a classical text reads, 'trembling with fear, unable to utter a sound.'