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wistfulness - 2 dictionary results

wist⋅ful

  [wist-fuhl]
Use wistfulness in a Sentence
–adjective
1. characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning.
2. pensive, esp. in a melancholy way.
Origin:
1605–15; obs. wist quiet, silent, attentive (var. of whist 2 ) + -ful

Related forms:
wist⋅ful⋅ly, adverb
wist⋅ful⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. reflective, musing, meditative, forlorn.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To wistfulness
wist·ful   (wĭst'fəl)   
adj.  
  1. Full of wishful yearning.
  2. Pensively sad; melancholy.

[From obsolete wistly, intently.]
wist'ful·ly adv., wist'ful·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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