a. [f. WISH sb.1 + -FUL.]
† 1. Such as is, or is to be, wished; desirable; desired, longed-for. (Cf. DESIROUS 5.) Obs.
1523. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), I. 31. This so glorious, so profyttable and so wysshefull an enterpryse.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 110. We haue receiued your excellencies wishefull letters.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. xi. 50. The ioyous light, Whereof she long had lackt the wishfull sight.
c. 1616. Chapman, Homer’s Hymn Hermes, 185. Many a field Pleasant and wishful.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. vi. 4. Having so wishful an Opportunity … I could not but send you this Friendly Salute.
2. a. Of the eye or look, tone, feeling, etc.: Full of desire; longing, yearning, wistful. (Cf. DESIROUS 2.) Obs. or dial.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. i. 14. To greet mine owne Land with my wishfull sight.
1711. Spectator, No. 250, ¶ 6. You can’t behold a covetous Spirit walk by a Goldsmith’s Shop without casting a wishful Eye at the Heaps upon the Counter.
1739. C. Wesley, Hymn. Hail the Day that sees Him rise, Ravish’d from our wishful Eyes.
1810. E. D. Clarke, Trav. Russia (1839), 5/1. It has probably happened to others, as to myself, to cast an eye of wishful curiosity towards the eastern boundaries of Europe.
1827. C. Bridges, Exp. Ps. cxix., verse 67. 173. The forlorn wandering child casting a wishful, penitent look towards his Father’s house.
b. Of a person: Possessed by a wish for something specified or implied; wishing, desirous. Now rare in literary prose.
1733. Whitehead, St. Dunces, Poems (1777), 18. Lo! o’er yon flood H—e casts his low’ring eyes, And wishful sees the rev’rend turrets rise.
1825. Waterton, Wand. S. Amer., III. ii. 236. Wishful to see how he worked, I allowed him to take possession.
1852. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xlii. I was wishful to say a word to you, sir.
1867. Morris, Jason, I. 314. I am but Jason, who dwell here alone … Wishful for happy days.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., 1703. Wishful from my soul That truth should triumph.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. 165. A second chamber well qualified for the duty of revision, and wishful to discharge it.
