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