Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Wretch
Wretch
,Noun.
[OE. ]
wrecche
, AS. wrecca
, wræcca
, an exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan
to drive out, punish; properly, an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wræc
an exile, OS. wrekkio
a stranger, OHG. reccheo
an exile. See Wreak
, Verb.
T.
1.
A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy.
“The wretch that lies in woe.” Shak.
Hovered thy spirit o’er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch
even then, life's journey just begun? Cowper.
2.
One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable person; a vile knave;
as, a profligate
. wretch
☞ Wretch is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical pity or contempt, and sometimes to express tenderness; as we say, poor thing. “Poor wretch was never frighted so.”
Drayton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Wretch
WRETCH
,Noun.
1.
A miserable person; one sunk in the deepest distress; as a forlorn wretch.2.
A worthless mortal; as a contemptible wretch.3.
A person sunk in vice; as a profligate wretch.4.
It is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical pity or contempt.Poor wretch was never frighted so.
5.
It is sometimes used to express tenderness; as we say, poor thing.