See Also: wretch(dictionary)
wretch(dictionary)

wretch (iou)



wretch noun & adjective.

A. noun.
A banished person; an exile. OE-LME.
A deeply unfortunate or pitiable person or creature. Freq. as a term of commiseration. OE.
T. Gray The Wretch, that long has tost On the thorny bed of Pain. S. Mostyn I see my wife wants me. The poor wretch is terribly jealous. P. Carter A lonely, miserable wretch living a furtive life in a shabby room.
A vile, despicable, or reprehensible person. Freq. as a term of playful depreciation. OE.
Defoe Wretch!..look back upon a mis-spent Life. A. Helps A wretch of a pedant who knows all about tetrameters. M. Forster I am an ungrateful wretch to venture to criticise her.
A niggardly person; a miser. Now Scot. ME.
B. adjective.
= WRETCHED adjective 1. OE-L16.
= WRETCHED adjective 2, 3. Only in ME.