窮きわみなき

Meanings

pre-noun adjectival

Classical literary expression used before nouns to mean 'limitless' or 'endless'. In modern Japanese, it appears only in fixed poetic or rhetorical contexts, often replaced by 限りない or 果てしない.

古こ典てん文ぶん学がくには「窮きわみなき海うみ」のような表ひょう現げんが見みられる。
In classical literature, expressions like 'the boundless sea' can be found.

Kanji

窮hard up, destitute, suffer
無nothingness, none, ain't

Related words

限かぎりない
Common modern equivalent meaning 'limitless' or 'endless'. 窮みなき is its archaic, literary predecessor.
果はてしない
Another modern synonym, often implying physical or temporal endlessness. 窮みなき carries a more abstract, classical nuance.

Written forms

窮きわみなき
Classical pre-noun adjectival form; the kanji 窮 suggests extremity or limitlessness. Rare in modern Japanese.
窮きわみ無なき
Variant spelling using 無 for 'without'. Equally rare.

Etymology

From classical Japanese 窮み (kiwami, 'extremity, limit') + なき (naki, archaic attributive form of なし 'without'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 窮 reinforces the sense of reaching an extreme or limit.