v. t. & i. See Drecche. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
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 ]
Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun? Cowper. [ 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.
O cruel! Death! to those you are more kind
Than to the wretched mortals left behind. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ 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.
Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Wretched. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ See Reckless. ] Reckless; hence, disregarded. [ Obs. ] --
Your deaf ears should listen
Unto the wretchless clamors of the poor. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]
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 ]
Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun? Cowper. [ 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.
O cruel! Death! to those you are more kind
Than to the wretched mortals left behind. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]
[ 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.
Eat worms and such wretchedness. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Wretched. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ See Reckless. ] Reckless; hence, disregarded. [ Obs. ] --
Your deaf ears should listen
Unto the wretchless clamors of the poor. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]