wistfullyadv.
/ˈwɪs(t)fᵿli/, /ˈwɪs(t)fl̩i/, U.S. /ˈwɪs(t)fəli/ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > earnest attention, concentration > [adverb]
intentivelyc1290
studiouslya1382
intentlyc1425
wistlya1500
poringly1594
intensively1637
wistfully1664
fixedly1702
concentratedly1794
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > notice, observation > [adverb] > intently, closely
redelya1250
wishly1530
fixly1604
fixedly1605
wistfully1664
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. iii. 164 With that, He fell again to pry, Through Perspective, more wistfully.
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 20 Aug. 2/1 [The lion] after having regarded [Androcles] a little wistfully, fell to the Ground, and crept towards his Feet.
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy II. xii. 84 Brother Shandy, answer'd my uncle Toby, looking wistfully in his face,—you are much mistaken.
1833 H. Martineau Manch. Strike (new ed.) x. 115 Martha looked wistfully from one to the other, not understanding the grounds of the dispute.
2. With expectant or yearning eagerness; with mournful expectancy or longing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > longing or yearning > [adverb] > wistfully
wistfully1663
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 177 Echo..His doleful wailings did resound More wistfully, by many times, Then in small Poets splay-foot rimes.
1758 O. Goldsmith tr. J. Marteilhe Mem. Protestant I. 214 Two of the Grenadiers passing by..and looking wistfully at the House; said one to the other, Comrade, let us halt, and take a little drop of Dram.
1768 H. Brooke Fool of Quality III. xvi. 178 Sore and shackled as I was, I got..on deck, and looked wistfully out at sea.
1823 Ld. Byron Island iii. vi. 54 He..strode to where young Torquil stood,..Seized his hand wistfully, but did not press.
1858 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) IV. xviii. 53 The Catholic league gazed wistfully from Flanders at their intended prey.
1883 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera xc. 165 The girl wandered about wistfully a year or two longer, then died.
Derivatives
ˈwistfulness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > longing or yearning > [noun] > wistfulness
desideration?c1525
wistfulness1775
Sehnsucht1847
saudade1912
1775 in J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang.
1847 F. Nightingale in Sir E. Cook Life F. Nightingale (1913) I. i. v. 71 There is an uncertainty, a wistfulness in her eyes.
1887 H. Caine Son of Hagar i. ii The lucent eyes were full of a dewy wistfulness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1663