Wist″ful (?), 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.]
1. Longing; wishful; desirous.
Lifting up one of my sashes, I cast many a wistful, melancholy look towards the sea. Swift.
2. Full of thought; eagerly attentive; meditative; musing; pensive; contemplative.
That he who there at such an hour hath been,
Will wistful linger on that hallowed spot. Byron.
— Wist″ful‐ly, adv. — Wist″ful‐ness, n.