Wretch

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɹɛtʃ/
• Rhymes: -É›tʃ
• Homophones: retch

Origin

From Old English wreċċa ("outcast, exile"), from Proto-Germanic *wrakjô.

Full definition of wretch

Noun

1. An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.
• 1742, Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews Chapter 12, The poor wretch, who lay motionless a long time, just began to recover his senses as a stage-coach came by.
• 1789, Watkin Tench, The Expedition to Botany Bay Chapter 14, The four unhappy wretches labouring under sentence of banishment were freed from their fetters, to rejoin their former society; and three days given as holidays to every convict in the colony.
2. An unpleasant, annoying person.
• 1740, Samuel Richardson, Pamela Chapter 71, Swear to me but, thou bold wretch! said she, swear to me, that Pamela Andrews is really and truly thy lawful wife, without sham, without deceit, without double-meaning; and I know what I have to say!
• 1823, Walter Scott, Saint Ronan's Well Chapter 32, I asked that selfish wretch, Winterblossom, to walk down with me to view her distress, and the heartless beast told me he was afraid of infection!
3. (archaic) An exile.