adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.]
† 1. With close attention, intently; with an inquiring look. Obs.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. III. 464. With that he fell again to pry Through Perspective more wistfully.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 139, ¶ 2. [The lion] after having regarded him [sc. Androcles] a little wistfully, fell to the ground, and crept towards his feet.
1759. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, II. xii. Brother Shandy, answered my uncle Toby, looking wistfully in his face,—you are much mistaken.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, x. 115. Martha looked wistfully from one to the other, not understanding the grounds of the dispute.
2. With expectant or yearning eagerness; with mournful expectancy or longing.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. III. 191. Eccho … His doleful wailings did resound, More wistfully by many times, Than in small Poets splay-foot Rhimes.
1758. Goldsm., Mem. Prot. (1895), I. 256. Two of the Grenadiers passing by … and looking wistfully at the House; said one to the other, Comrade, let us halt, and take a little drop of Dram.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 90. Sore and shackled as I was, I got … on deck, and looked wistfully out at sea.
1823. Byron, Island, III. vi. He … strode to where young Torquil stood,… Seized his hand wistfully, but did not press.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 53. The Catholic league gazed wistfully from Flanders at their intended prey.
1883. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xc. 165. The girl wandered about wistfully a year or two longer, then died.
So Wistfulness.
1775. Ash.
1818. Caledonian Mercury, 27 June, 2/1. The veteran, whose eyes were glazed with death, threw such a wistfulness into them that was irresistible, and Sir R. Wilson gave him the bread.
1847. Flor. Nightingale, in Sir E. Cook, Life (1913), I. I. v. 71. There is an uncertainty, a wistfulness in her eyes.
1887. Hall Caine, Son of Hagar, I. ii. The lucent eyes were full of a dewy wistfulness.
