adv. Obs. Forms: 6 wystly, wistle, wistlie, 6–9 wistly. [Origin doubtful; perh. a variant of WHISTLY, WHISHTLY advs. silently, hushedly.] With close attention; intently.
Occas. with implication of WISTFULLY 2.
a. 1500. Gest of Robyn Hode, ccccx. Robyn behelde our comly kynge Wystly in the face.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, O j. With that Castibula looking wistly vpon him, in furious rage flange hastilye from him.
1596. Edward III., III. v. 109. Now lies it on an vpshot; therefore strike, And wistlie follow, whiles the games on foote.
1600. Holland, Livy, IX. xxxii. 337. For a good while they stood on both sides, wistly looking, & waiting that the shout and charge should begin from the adverse part.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. v. 435. What time the new-cloath’d trees by gusts of winde Vnmou’d, stand wistly listning to those layes.
1641. H. L’Estrange, God’s Sabbath, 23. If you look wistly upon Calvines words, you shall find him not repugnant to what I have here delivered.
1675. N. Lee, Nero, III. i. 23. Do you know me, Sir? Look wistly on me.
1724. S. Knight, Life J. Colet, 54. He look’d wistly upon me, to observe whether I spoke in jest, or earnest.
1730. T. Boston, View World (1799), 281. In your … wrestling with temptations, have ye not sometimes looked wistly for death’s relief?
