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.]

1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. ``The wretch that lies in woe.'' --Shak.

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

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

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)