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    Wistfully

    /ˈwɪstfəli/

    Meaning & Definition

    adverb
    in a way that shows a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
    She stared wistfully at the old photographs, remembering the happy moments of her childhood.
    with a longing or yearning that is tinged with sadness.
    He spoke wistfully of the days when they would venture out into the world together.
    in a manner that expresses a desire for something lost or unattainable.
    The musician played a wistfully haunting melody that echoed her feelings of loss.

    Etymology

    The word 'wist' is an old form of 'wise', meaning 'to know', combined with the suffix '-fully'.

    Common Phrases and Expressions

    wistful thinking
    A hopeful yet unrealistic view or expectation.
    wistful glance
    A look that expresses a longing or a reflective mood.
    wistful memory
    A recollection that brings a feeling of nostalgia or sadness.

    Related Words

    wistfulness
    A state of nostalgic longing or yearning.
    wist
    To know; an old form of the word, now obsolete.

    Slang Meanings

    Feeling down about the past.
    After looking through old photos, he felt a bit wistfully nostalgic.
    Longing for something unattainable.
    She had a wistfully romantic view of love that was never fulfilled.