---
title: wistful — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wistful» in the school dictionary: Sad and full of longing for something you cannot have, or for something that is past. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wistful

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, She, old man, man, Rat, swallows · **What happens:** long, not have, be, give, wave, look · **To what, where:** something, wistful smile, goodbye, voice, wistful look, closed door · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wistful» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [wistful in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wistful.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sad and full of longing for something you cannot have, or for something that is past.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:m1:1
# text = Sad and full of longing for something you cannot have, or for something that is past.
1	Sad	sad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	_
4	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	longing	long	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obl	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
16	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	past	past	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **long** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | for something | vn long-32.2 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Pivot for something=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **have** | can | you | something |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 3 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | past *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Thoughtful and dreamy, with gentle sadness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:m2:1
# text = Thoughtful and dreamy, with gentle sadness.
1	Thoughtful	thoughtful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	dreamy	dreamy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She gave a wistful smile as she waved goodbye.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x1:1
# text = She gave a wistful smile as she waved goodbye.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	smile	smile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	waved	wave	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
9	goodbye	goodbye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | She | a wistful smile |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent smile=Theme |
| 2 | **wave** | past | she | goodbye |  |  |  |  | vn wink-40.3.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goodbye=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old man looked wistful as he spoke of his childhood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x2:1
# text = The old man looked wistful as he spoke of his childhood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
6	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
7	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	childhood	childhood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the old man |  |  |  |  | wistful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* | past | man |  |  |  |  | of man's childhood | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Rat felt wistful when the swallows talked of the south.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x3:1
# text = The Rat felt wistful when the swallows talked of the south.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	Rat	Rat	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	felt	feel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	swallows	swallow	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
8	talked	talk	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	south	south	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **feel** | past | the Rat |  |  |  |  | wistful *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |
| 2 | **talk** | past | the swallows |  |  |  |  | of the south | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There was a wistful note in her voice.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x4:1
# text = There was a wistful note in her voice.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	was	be	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	voice	voice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | past | a wistful note |  |  | note's voice; there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in voice=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The puppy gave a wistful look at the closed door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x5:1
# text = The puppy gave a wistful look at the closed door.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	look	look	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	closed	close	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	10	amod	_	_
10	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | the puppy | a wistful look |  | the closed door |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP PP.asset»: agent=Agent look=Theme at door=Asset |
| 2 | **close** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The song was sweet and wistful.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x6:1
# text = The song was sweet and wistful.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	song	song	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the song |  |  |  |  | sweet *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the song *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
‘Don’t be long,’ replied Zizi, and she watched him go with wistful eyes.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wistful:x7:1
# text = ‘Don’t be long,’ replied Zizi, and she watched him go with wistful eyes.
1	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	n’t	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	cop	_	_
5	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
8	replied	reply	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	Zizi	Zizi	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	advcl	_	_
14	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	xcomp	_	_
16	with	with	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	wistful	wistful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | long *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **reply** *speech: assert* | past | Zizi |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **watch** | past | Zizi | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **go** | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with wistful eyes | vn help-72.1-2 «NP V PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent with eye=Beneficiary |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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