taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Archaic 'taru' adjective/adverb describing a slow, gradual, or steady progression. In modern Japanese, 徐々に is the standard adverbial form.
病状は徐々として快方に向かった。
The condition of the illness gradually improved.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Archaic use describing a calm or composed state. Rarely used in modern Japanese; the adverbial form 徐々に does not carry this meaning.
彼は徐々として動じなかった。
He remained calm and unperturbed.
Modern adverbial form meaning 'gradually' or 'little by little'. Unlike the archaic 徐々, 徐々に is common in contemporary Japanese.
The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 徐 carries the meaning of 'slowly' or 'gradually', and the reduplication 徐々 emphasizes the gradual nature.