adj.
Pronunciation: ' wist-f ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: blend of wishful and obsolete English wistly intently
Date: 1714
1 : full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy also : inspiring such yearning <a wistful memoir>
2 : musingly sad : PENSIVE <a wistful glance>
– wist · ful · ly \ -f ə -l ē \ adverb
– wist · ful · ness noun