different between longing vs wishful

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?l????/
• Rhymes: -????
• (US) IPA^(key): /?l?????/

Etymology 1

From Middle English longynge, langynge, langand, from Old English langiende, from Proto-Germanic *lang?ndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *lang?n? (“to desire, long for”), equivalent to long +? -ing (present participle ending).

Verb

longing

1. present participle of long

Etymology 2

From Middle English longinge, langynge, from Old English longung, langung (“longing, desire”), from Proto-Germanic *langung?, gerund of Proto-Germanic *lang?n? (“to desire, long for”), equivalent to long +? -ing (gerund ending).

Noun

longing (plural longings)

1. An earnest and deep, not greatly passionate, but rather melancholic desire.
2. The buying of a financial instrument with the expectation that its value will rise

Synonyms

• yearning

Related terms

• long

Translations

See also

• desire
• miss

English

Etymology

From wish +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?w??f?l/

Adjective

wishful (comparative more wishful, superlative most wishful)

1. (obsolete) Wished-for; desired, wanted.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.9:

     The cry whereof entring the hollow cave / Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment, / With hope of her some wishfull boot to have.

2. Expressing a wish or longing for something.
   • 1789, Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, vol. I, ch. 5:

     When she weighed anchor I went to the waterside and looked at her with a very wishful and aching heart, and followed her with my eyes and tears until she was totally out of sight.

3. Aspiring, or seeking advancement.

Derived terms

• wishful thinking

Translations