wretch
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wretch¹
- /ɹɛt͡ʃ/
Sounds like retch · Rhymes with -ɛtʃ
Where it comes from
From Middle English wrecche, from Old English wreċċa (“exile, outcast”), from Proto-Germanic *wrakjô (“exile, fugitive, warrior”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to track, follow”). Doublet of garçon.
noun wretches
- An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person. The poor wretch, who lay motionless a long time, just began to recover his senses as a stage-coach came by.
- An unpleasant, annoying, worthless, or despicable person. Swear to me but, thou bold wretch! said she, swear to me, that Pamela Andrews is really and truly thy lawful wife, without sham, without deceit, without double-meaning; and I know what I have to say!
- An exile.
wretch²
Where it comes from
From confusion with the noun.
verb
- Misspelling of retch.retch
