a. [ For wishful; perhaps influenced by wistly, which is probably corrupted from OE. wisly certainly (from Icel. viss certain, akin to E. wit). See Wish. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. Longing; wishful; desirous. [ 1913 Webster ] Lifting up one of my sashes, I cast many a wistful, melancholy look towards the sea. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Full of thought; eagerly attentive; meditative; musing; pensive; contemplative. [ 1913 Webster ] That he who there at such an hour hath been, Will wistful linger on that hallowed spot. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ] -- Wist"ful*ly, adv. -- Wist"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ] |