/ ˈwɪstfl; NAmE / adjective
thinking sadly about sth that you would like to have, especially sth in the past that you can no longer have :
a wistful smile
► wist·ful·ly / -fəli; NAmE / adverb :
She sighed wistfully.
'If only I had known you then,' he said wistfully.
► wist·ful·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: apparently from obsolete wistly intently, influenced by wishful .