wretch

[rech]

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noun

a deplorably unfortunate or unhappy person.

a person of despicable or base character.

Nearby words

Origin of wretch

before 900; Middle English wrecche, Old English wrecca exile, adventurer; cognate with German Recke warrior, hero, Old Norse rekkr man

Can be confusedretch wretch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wretch

So you are the one who is at the bottom of this, you wretch you!
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob Boss|J. North Conway|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He tried to believe that there was some hope for such a wretch; but the attempt was not altogether successful.
A Handful of Stars|Frank W. Boreham
Does she really think me such a wretch as to cause Ovid, under any provocation, a moment's anxiety while he is away?
Heart and Science|Wilkie Collins
It will depend on whether my silly husband wants to stay with his wretch of a baby.
Alice Sit-By-The-Fire|J. M. Barrie

Rhodopis took them kindly under her protection, but some wretch had discovered the secret and betrayed it to the prince.
An Egyptian Princess, Complete|Georg Ebers
My father was slain by just such a wretch as you, in just such a duel, for just such a cause.
Man And Superman|George Bernard Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for wretch

wretch

noun

a despicable person

a person pitied for his misfortune

Word Origin for wretch

Old English wrecca; related to Old Saxon wrekkeo, Old High German reccheo (German Recke warrior), Old Norse rek (n) ingr

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wretch

wretch

Old English wrecca "wretch, stranger, exile," from Proto-Germanic *wrakjan (cf. Old Saxon wrekkio, Old High German reckeo "a banished person, exile," German recke "renowned warrior, hero"), related to Old English wreccan "to drive out, punish" (see wreak). Sense of "vile, despicable person" developed in Old English, reflecting the sorry state of the outcast, as presented in much of Anglo-Saxon verse (e.g. "The Wanderer"). Cf. German Elend "misery," from Old High German elilenti "sojourn in a foreign land, exile."