tristful

She catches my hand, squeezes, holds me in her tristful gaze.

Lingering over Drinks Barry Basden 2011

The brave, the royal Alonzo heard not the voice of his enchanting dulcinea; he, poor fellow, with difficulty supported his trembling frame against an ancient _memento mori_, which reared its tristful crest within a whisper of the lattice of the lovely Carlotta.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 329, August 30, 1828 Various

The feelings of disappointment and grief then rankling in every Irish breast are well mirrored in that plaintive song of our national poet, which open with these tristful lines: ---

Speeches from the Dock, Part I Various

Your dress is black, and during the time of waiting you compose your visage into a "tristful 'haviour," and lean in silent solemnity upon the top of your cane, thinking about -- last night's party.

The Laws of Etiquette Unknown

George had retained his mourning, a tribute completed down to the final details of black gloves and a polished ebony cane (which he would have been pained to name otherwise than as a "walking-stick") and in the aura of this sombre elegance his straight figure and drawn face were not without a tristful and appealing dignity.

The Magnificent Ambersons; illustrated by Arthur William Brown 1918

George had retained his mourning, a tribute completed down to the final details of black gloves and a polished ebony cane (which he would have been pained to name otherwise than as a “walking-stick”) and in the aura of this sombre elegance his straight figure and drawn face were not without a tristful and appealing dignity.

Chapter 27 1918

Indeed, it is hard to trace folly, for that it is inconsequent, to its start; and perhaps it savours too much of reason to suggest that the prejudice was due to the tristful confusion man has made of soul and surface.

The Works of Max Beerbohm Max Beerbohm 1914

George had retained his mourning, a tribute completed down to the final details of black gloves and a polished ebony cane (which he would have been pained to name otherwise than as a "walking-stick") and in the aura of this sombre elegance his straight figure and drawn face were not without a tristful and appealing dignity.

The Magnificent Ambersons Booth Tarkington 1907

This iron grating was the most necessary feature of all, for I intended that on the other side of it my relations should range themselves -- I mentally ran over the catalogue, and saw that the whole gang was present, all in their proper places -- a sad-eyed row, combined in tristful appeal.

Dream Days 1898

This iron grating was the most necessary feature of all, for I intended that on the other side of it my relations should range themselves -- I mentally ran over the catalogue, and saw that the whole gang was present, all in their proper places -- a sad-eyed row, combined in tristful appeal.

Dream Days Kenneth Grahame 1895