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.
© Webster 1913.