wistful

The definition of wistful refers to being full of melancholy or yearning, or having a mournful or regretful longing.

(adjective)

An example of wistful is when you look back on your past and wish you had done something differently.

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See wistful in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

showing or expressing vague yearnings; longing pensively

Origin: altered (modeled on wishful) < earlier wistly, attentive

Related Forms:

See wistful in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Full of wishful yearning.
  2. Pensively sad; melancholy.

Origin:

Origin: From obsolete wistly, intently

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Related Forms:

  • wistˈful·ly adverb
  • wistˈful·ness noun

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