See Also: wistful(dictionary)
wistful(dictionary)

wistful (oh)



[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: wistly 'with close attention' (15-18 centuries), probably from whist 'quiet' (15-20 centuries); influenced by wishful]
thinking sadly about something you would like to have but cannot have, especially something that you used to have in the past
::a wistful smile
-- wistfully adv
::'That's the house where I was born,' she said wistfully.
-- wistfulness n [U]