Definition of 'wretch'
Word forms: wretches
1. countable noun
You can refer to someone as a wretch when you feel sorry for them because they are unhappy or unfortunate.
[literary] Before the poor wretch had time to speak, he was shot.
2. countable noun
You can refer to someone as a wretch when you think that they are wicked or if they have done something you are angry
about.
[literary, disapproval] Oh, what have you done, you wretch!
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
wretch in American English
noun
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME wrecche < OE wrecca, an outcast, lit., one driven out < wrecan, to drive out, punish: see
wreakWord Frequency
wretch in British English
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English wrecca; related to Old Saxon wrekkeo, Old High German reccheo (German Recke warrior), Old Norse rek(n)ingrExamples of 'wretch' in a sentence
wretch
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Source
Definition of wretch from the
Collins English Dictionary
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