wretch

n. [ 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, v. t. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. “The wretch that lies in woe.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun? Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Very miserable; sunk in, or accompanied by, deep affliction or distress, as from want, anxiety, or grief; calamitous; woeful; very afflicting. “To what wretched state reserved!” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

O cruel! Death! to those you are more kind
Than to the wretched mortals left behind. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

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2. Worthless; paltry; very poor or mean; miserable; as, a wretched poem; a wretched cabin. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hatefully contemptible; despicable; wicked. [ Obs. ] “Wretched ungratefulness.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nero reigned after this Claudius, of all men wretchedest, ready to all manner [ of ] vices. Capgrave. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a wretched manner; miserably; despicable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality or state of being wretched; utter misery. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wretched object; anything despicably. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]