Forms: α. 1 wrecca, wræcca, 2–5 wrecche, 2–3 wræcche, 3–4 wrehche, 3–5 wrechche, 4–5 wrechhe, wrechch, 5 wrecch, 3–6 wreche (5 Sc. werche), 4–5 wrech (5 Sc. werch), 4–6 wretche, 5– wretch (6 wreatch); 4 wroche, 8 dial. wrotch. β. 4–5 wrich, wriche (wirche), wryche, 5 wrycche, 6 wrytche. γ. Sc. 5–6 wrache (5 warche), 6 wratche, Sc. and dial. 9 wratch. [OE. wrecco, wræcca, = OS. wrekkio, -eo (applied to the Magi), OHG. reccheo, reccho, etc., exile, adventurer, knight errant (MHG. and G. recke warrior, hero):—OTeut. *wrakja(n)-, f. the stem wrak-, wrek-: see WREAK v. The contrast in the development of the meaning in Eng. and German is remarkable.]
A. sb. † 1. One driven out of or away from his native country; a banished person; an exile.
The ME. instances are doubtful; they may be contextual uses of sense 2.
Beowulf, 137. Ða wæs winter scacen, fæʓer foldan bearm; fundode wrecca, gist of ʓeardum.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., ii. Ða lioð þe ic wrecca ʓeo lustbærlice song ic sceal nu heofiende singan.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 722. Ealdbriht wrecca ʓewat on Suðreʓe & on Suð Seaxe.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s Prol., 58. Now help thow … Me flemed wrecche in this desert of galle.
c. 1450. Ludus Coventriæ, 26. Goo naked vngry and bare foot…, as wrecch in werlde þou wende. Ibid., 27. I wende as wrecch in welson way.
2. One who is sunk in deep distress, sorrow, misfortune or poverty; a miserable, unhappy or unfortunate person; a poor or hapless being.
α. c. 1000. Boeth. Metr., x. 38. Ne mæʓ mon æfre þy eð ænne wræccan his cræftes beniman.
a. 1023. Wulfstan, Hom., vi. (1883), 45. Wræccena reaflac is on heora hamum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 109. Ȝif þe cristene mon bið sacful, and ȝif þe wrecche bið modi.
a. 1225. Ancr. R. 388. So heih ȝeoue nes neuer iȝiuen to so louwe wrecches.
c. 1275. Sinners Beware, 103, in O. E. Misc., 75. Nv weneþ ek þes wrecche Þat he ne þurue recche.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13564. Cowardie halp þer no wrecche.
1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 385. Mercy or almes is a wille of relevynge of a wreche oute of his mysese.
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Mother of God, 15. Modir of mercy,… Benigne confort of vs wrecches all!
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., clvi. (1811), 145. He was … mylde and gracious to the poore, and marcyfull to wretchis and nedy.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, 125/1. Solomon the … happy king of Juda, bycause of his Idolatrie … is of a soudeine made a wretch of all other.
1623. J. Taylor (Water P.), Discov. by Sea, B 3 b. Poore wretches, which (were it not for your charity) would perish in your streetes.
1671. T. Hunt, Abeced. Scholast., 140. If money do fail a wretch thou art.
a. 1721. Prior, 24 Songs, iii. 8. She scorns to hear, or see, The wretch that lies so low as me.
1754. Gray, Pleasure, 49. The Wretch, that long has tost On the thorny bed of Pain.
1810. Southey, Kehama, IV. v. Even in the grave there is no rest for me, Cut off from that last hope, the wretch’s joy.
1855. Ld. Granville, in Life (1905), I. 106. Being a bed-ridden wretch I do not venture to disobey you.
1868. Morris, Earthly Par., I. I. 349. O King, whom all the world henceforth shall know As wretched among wretches.
β. a. 1300. Cursor M., 23104 (Edinb.). Þar sal stand on his left side, Wrichis stad in waful wide. Ibid., 23236. Þe v. [pine of hell] es vndemenes of dint, Þat þa wriches þar sal hint.
1570. Levins, Manip., 150. A Wrytche, miser.
γ. c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxvii. (Machar), 1010. Þan was þat wrache wondir wa.
b. Without article. (Freq. in apposition to a personal pronoun.)
c. 1200. Ormin, 10140. Þatt te birrþ forr þe lufe off Godd Wiþþ usell wrecche dælenn.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 294. Allas, wreche, hou may i duelle?
c. 1350. in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 63. God & man my spouse is—Wele aght me, wryche, to luf him dere.
c. 1400. 26 Pol. Poems, 112/163. I, wreche, whyder shal y fle.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. (Percy Soc.), 65. Alas! I wretche and yet unhappy peke Into … trouble.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 2. Fynally I beseche all … to praye for me wretche.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., i. 2. For myself, poor wretch, I went … in my misery to Setuval.
1743. Young, Nt. Th., IV. 14. Imagination’s fool, and error’s wretch, Man makes a death, which nature never made.
1790. Cowper, On Receipt Mother’s Picture, 24. Hover’d thy spirit o’er thy sorrowing son, Wretch even then?
1821. Shelley, Hellas, 909. Fond wretch! He leans upon his crutch, and talks of years To come.
1886. W. J. Tucker, E. Europe, 36. I, poor wretch, in possession of nothing.
c. Used as a term of address.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 29. Weilawei wrecche,… al swa eða þu mihtest … smiten of þin aȝen heaueð.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2049. Hu wrakeliche, wenestu, wule he, al o wraððe, wreken on þe, wrecche!
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 37. Ah, wrecche! Þe care aȝain þi pinunge þrahen binimeð þe nihtes slepes.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7178. A! wrecches vnwar, woo ys in our hond!
a. 1500. Image Hypocr., III. 331, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 437. Ye call that poore man wretch, As thoughe ye hadd no retche.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIV. 503. O wretch of Guests … thy Tale hath stirr’d My minde to much ruth.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. ii. 34. Poor wretch, I pity thee.
d. Applied to animals, birds or insects.
a. 1300. Fox & Wolf, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 66. The wrecche binethe nothing ne vind, Bote cold water.
c. 1480. Henryson, Swallow, 1908. Thir hungrie birdis wretchis we may call.
1600. Surflet, Countrie Farme, 628. Vpon them shall be fastened manie boordes or hurdles … for to pleasure this small wretch [sc. a silkworm] withall.
1602. Ld. Cromwell, IV. i. 47. Who sees the Cob-web intangle the poore Flie, May boldlie say the wretches death is nigh.
1627. Drayton, Nymphidia, xxvii. Soone away the Waspe doth goe, Poore wretch was neuer frighted so.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, III. iv. This was the second time this squire had endeavoured to kill the little wretch [= a favourite dog]. Ibid., vi. The hare was no sooner on shore than it … listened to the sound of the pursuers. Fanny was wonderfully pleased with the little wretch.
1744. Thomson, Summer, 273. The villain Spider…, fixing in the Wretch his cruel Fangs, Strikes backward.
1802. G. V. Sampson, Statist. Surv. Londonderry, 210. As to the rearing of calves, there is a [cruel] superstition…. As soon as the wretch is produced,… two persons … pull it most forcibly.
e. A person or little creature. (Used as a term of playful depreciation, or to denote slight commiseration or pity.)
c. 1450. Merlin, xxxiii. 683. He that was full fierce and prowde hadde shame to iuste with so litill a wrecche.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iii. 44. The pretty wretch lefte crying, & said I.
1599. Breton, Miseries Mauillia, ii. With these last words, Farewell good mistresse, the good poore wretch … gave up the ghost. Ibid., Scholler & Souldiour, 30. Oh ’tis a heavenly noise to hear the sweete wretch [= the nightingale].
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 90. Excellent wretch: Perdition catch my Soule But I do loue thee.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 25 May. She being a good-natured and painful wretch.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, I. vii. Had you exposed the little wretch in the manner of some inhuman mothers.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 12. He whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch, Cold and yet cheerful.
1821. Shelley, Hellas, 227. Swift as the radiant shapes of sleep From one whose dreams are Paradise Fly, when the fond wretch wakes to weep.
1850. Kingsley, A. Locke, xxviii. Two little boys hailed us…—two little wretches with blue noses and white cheeks.
1891. ‘S. Mostyn,’ Curatica, 85. I see my wife wants me. The poor wretch is terribly jealous.
3. A vile, sorry or despicable person; one of opprobrious or reprehensible character; a mean or contemptible creature. Also without article.
In very frequent use from c. 1300.
α. a. 1000. Juliana, 351. Hyre se feond oncwæð, wræcca wærleas wordum mælde.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 47. Þu prokest me to forgulten,… & waldes warpe me as wrecche i þi leirwite.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1074. Ðat folc vn-seli,… ðo sori wrecches of yuel blod.
1340. Ayenb., 25. Þus him ioisseþ and him glorifieþ þe wreche ine his herte.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 169. I wolde be wreken on þis wrecches þat worchen so ille.
1402. Hoccleve, Let. Cupid, 310. The feythles wrechch how hath he him for-swore.
a. 1450. Medit. Life & Pass. Christ, 1139. Wiþ rugged nayles þe wrecches wode Nailed him hard to þe rode.
1555. Philpot, in Coverdale, Lett. Martyrs (1564), 230. Vnto me moste vile, sinnefull, wicked and vnworthy wretch.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 337. These wretches entred into the Princesse Chamber, and brake her head.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Observ. & Trav. fr. London to Hamburgh, C 4 b. [They] were amazed at the ingratitude of the wretch.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 104. The perfidious wretch Theseus abandoned the poor Ariadne.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. i. Wretch that I am, how have I lived, as without God in the world.
1781. Cowper, Table-T., 30. Let eternal infamy pursue The wretch to nought but his ambition true.
1805. J. Turnbull, Voy., xvii. (1813), 212. The wickedness of the wretch who would import a cargo of spirituous liquors into the … Society Islands.
1855. Kingsley, Westw. Ho! xxix. If I be wretch enough to give place to the devil.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xi. What wretches men were, to be sure!
β. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 78. Þe wrecches [Camb. MS. wrycches] of þis worlde is none ywar bi other.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxi. 360. If any wight with þis wriche any werse wate werkis.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, I. 2. He ys not but a wryche and slyme of erth.
γ. 1572. Satir. Poems Reform., xxxii. 118. Consume this wratche with Brinstane.
1866–. in Scottish glossaries, etc.
b. Used as a term of opprobrious address.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1033. Brademond, olde wreche,… Ertow come Iosiane to feche?
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4005. ‘A! wriches!’ quod þe wale kyng,… ‘Eftir þe deth of ȝour duke quat deynes ȝowe to stryue?’
c. 1430. Chev. Assigne, 71. A, kowarde of kynde,… & combred wrecche!
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, IV. v. V j b. Thou wretched person,… thou wretche that thou art.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. ii. 53. Tremble thou Wretch.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 93. Wretch!… look back upon a mis-spent Life.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xxii. 248. Wretch, dost thou repent?
1819. Shelley, Cenci, I. iii. 90. Thou wretch! Will none among this noble company Check the abandoned villain?
c. Used without serious imputation of bad qualities.
1688. Prior, Ode, vii. Levelling at God his wand’ring Guess … Laws to his Maker the learn’d Wretch can give.
1834. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho., i. Her ‘wretch of a husband,’ as she inwardly called him.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. viii. 159. A wretch of a pedant who knows all about tetrameters.
† 4. A niggardly or parsimonious person; a miser. Obs. (In later use chiefly Sc.)
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 6202. Þe wrecche saw hys tresoure sperd, And sette hym up yn hys bedde.
1340. Ayenb., 188. Uor to ssette þe porses of þe wrechchen þet hi ne ssolle by open to do elmesse.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Melib., ¶ 634. Vse … thy richesses … that men haue no … cause to calle thee neiþer wrecche ne chynche.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xli. 5. Be nocht a wreche, nor skerche in ȝour spending.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VIII. Prol. 53. The wrache walis and wringis for this warldis wrak.
1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, II. i. H iij b. Snayles … all the wynter season kepe theym within their shelles lyuynge lyke a wretche.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 318. All wratchis may tak example be this man nocht to hurd vp thair siluir.
1673. Wedderburn, Voc., 23 (Jam.). Est valde avarus, he is a great wretch.
† 5. A poor or paltry thing. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1300[?]. Prov. Hendyng, 202. Þis worldes loue ys a wrecche.
6. Comb., as wretch-like.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., IV. 961. Th’ abiect threshold [she] chose of her faire chamber, for her loth’d repose; And mournd most wretch-like.
B. adj. † 1. Of persons: Poor; miserable; deeply afflicted; = WRETCHED a. 1. Obs.
a. 1122. O. E. Chron., an. 1083. Þa wreccan munecas laʓon onbuton þam weofode. Ibid. (1154), an. 1137. Wrecce men sturuen of hungær.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 125. Alswa baldeliche mei þe wrechesta mon clepian drihtan him to federe.
c. 1205. Lay., 6556. Wha se hæfde richedom, he hine makede wræcche mon.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4187. Alas þou wrecche mon, woch mesaunture Aþ þe ybroȝt in to þis stede.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 4811. Sche was a wriche wiman Þat michel sorwe so was an.
1398. Trevisa, Barth De P. R., VI. xiii. (Addit. MS.). No man is more wrecche noþir haþ more woo … þan he þat hath an yuel wif.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, III. 4151. Allas! I, woful creature,… I, wreche woman.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, I. 47. Þenke how febull and how wrecche he ys, when he ys bore.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 158. The wretche people thinks they haue holpen a soule.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. ix. 30. It is the mynd … That maketh wretch or happie.
† 2. Of conditions, etc.: = WRETCHED a. 2. Obs.
1131. O. E. Chron., an. 1131. Crist ræde for þa wrecce muneces of Burch & for þæt wrecce stede.
a. 1200. in Fragm. Ælfric’s Gram., etc. (1838), 5. Þonne biþ þet wræcche lif iended.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4094. Þat we after hor wrecche deþ hor londes auonge.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 949 (Fairf.). Wende out of þis louesom lande, in-to þe wrecche werlde þou gange.
1583. G. Babington, Commandm. (1590), 60. Yet see, ah wretch, and woful plight,… Thy goodnesse to mee farre passeth all masters to their seruants.
† 3. Despicable; vile; reprehensible. Obs.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 103. Kiel mine wreche herte, þe is iattred of his manifealde fondinges.
c. 1290. Beket, 1406, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 146. Ich drede for mine wrechche gultes þat worse worth þe ende.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9913. Þe wrecche luþer giwes.
c. 1350. in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 50. To holi chirche … pes þou sende, And to vs wreche sinful, lif wyt-outen ende.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, III. 33. Sardanapallus was a man more wrecche þan eny womman.
† 4. Of a paltry character; = WRETCHED a. 3 b.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 335. Euer croweþ þi wrecche crey Þat he ne swikeþ nyht ne day.
