wistful

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++wist·ful /ˈwɪstfəl/ adjective SAD/UNHAPPYthinking sadly about something you would like to have but cannot have, especially something that you used to have in the past 〔因得不到想要的东西，尤指曾经拥有的东西〕伤感的，惆怅的，思念的，依依不舍的 a wistful smile 怅然若失的微笑 —wistfully adverb ‘That’s the house where I was born, ’ she said wistfully. “那是我出生的房子。”她伤感地说道。 —wistfulness noun [uncountable]

Examples from the Corpus

wistful• As we erected the tent Tony became wistful again.• There is something about train travel that prompts a kind of wistful, almost poetic, detachment.• On occasions he seems wistful and quiet but his attitude is definitely and generally antisocial.• Simon's face grew wistful as he thought about his happy student days.• If you look too hard it disappears altogether into a kind of wistful, disappointed light in the night sky.• It is impossible not to be wistful for them, if only in passing.• Then I wandered around for a while, casting wistful glances at my tables.• She was fair and rather birdlike, with brilliant eyes and a small wistful mouth.• "I wish life was always like this, " she said with a wistful sigh.• She looked at them with a wistful smile. ""I wish I could go with you.''• Rosalie Naumann contributed her wistful smile.Origin wistful (1600-1700) wistly “with close attention” ((15-18 centuries)), probably from whist “quiet” ((15-20 centuries)); influenced by wishful

wist·ful adjectiveChineseSyllable

but would you Corpus have something about like to thinking sadly

wistful
wist‧ful /ˈwɪstfəl/

adjective

Date: 1600-1700
Origin: wistly 'with close attention' (15-18 centuries), probably from whist 'quiet' (15-20 centuries); influenced by wishful

thinking sadly about something you would like to have but cannot have, especially something that you used to have in the past:

a wistful smile
—wistfully adverb:

‘That’s the house where I was born,’ she said wistfully.
—wistfulness noun [uncountable]

THESAURUS

   ▪ sad not happy: She felt sad as she waved goodbye. | a sad and lonely figure | a sad face | a sad film
   ▪ unhappy sad, especially for a long time – used about people and periods of time: I was unhappy at school. | an unhappy childhood | He’s obviously a deeply unhappy person.
   ▪ homesick [not before noun] sad because you are away from your home, family, and friends: She sometimes felt homesick when she first arrived in Japan.
   ▪ down [not before noun] informal feeling sad for a few hours or days, often for no reason: Whenever I’m feeling down, I go out and buy myself some new clothes. | She’s been kind of down since that argument with Jack.
   ▪ gloomy looking or sounding sad and without hope – used about people, places, and weather: Why are you all looking so gloomy? | the gloomy immigration office | a gloomy afternoon in February
   ▪ dejected/downcast looking sad and disappointed because something you hoped for did not happen: ‘I didn’t pass,’ he said, looking dejected. | a downcast expression | He was understandably downcast after the team’s loss.
   ▪ mournful especially literary looking or sounding sad: the dog’s big mournful eyes | the mournful sound of the church bell | a mournful expression
   ▪ glum looking sad and disappointed: Don’t look so glum! Maybe you’ll win next time. | They sat in glum silence.
   ▪ wistful especially literary looking a little sad and thoughtful, because you wish that the situation was different: She looked at him with a wistful smile.

wist·ful

BrE

/ˈwɪstfl/

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NAmE

/ˈwɪstfl/

🔊

adjective