Wretch \Wretch\, n. [OE. wrecche, AS. wrecca, wr[ae]cca, an
exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly,
an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wr[ae]c 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]
Note: 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]
wretch
noun1: performs some wicked deed
2: someone you feel sorry for [syn: poor devil, wretch]
63 Moby Thesaurus words for "wretch": Bowery bum, beachcomber, beggar, beggarly fellow, blackguard, blighter, budmash, bum, bummer, caitiff, cur, derelict, devil, dog, drifter, drunkard, good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, hobo, human wreck, knave, lowlife, martyr, mauvais sujet, mean wretch, mucker, no-good, object of compassion, pauvre diable, pilgarlic, poor creature, poor devil, prey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, rotter, sad case, sad sack, scalawag, scoundrel, scum, skid-row bum, skunk, snake, stiff, stinkard, stinker, sufferer, sundowner, swagman, toad, tramp, truant, vag, vagabond, vagrant, vaurien, victim, villain, wastrel, worm, worthless fellow
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