Meaning & Definition of word "Wistfully"
Wistfully
/ˈwɪstfəli/
adverb:
- 1. in a way that shows a feeling of vague or regretful longing.
- Example: She stared wistfully at the old photographs, remembering the happy moments of her childhood.
- 2. with a longing or yearning that is tinged with sadness.
- Example: He spoke wistfully of the days when they would venture out into the world together.
- 3. in a manner that expresses a desire for something lost or unattainable.
- Example: 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 of wistfully
Meaning: Feeling down about the past.
● Example Sentence: After looking through old photos, he felt a bit wistfully nostalgic.
Meaning: Longing for something unattainable.
● Example Sentence: She had a wistfully romantic view of love that was never fulfilled.