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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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.]
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1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. "The wretch
that lies in woe." --Shak.
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Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
Wretch even then, life's journey just begun?
--Cowper.
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2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable
person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.
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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.
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