Wretch
/rɛtʃ/noun
A miserable or unhappy person; someone in a state of distress.
Did you know?The term 'wretch' is linked to the Old English 'wreccan', which means 'to drive out' or 'to persecute', highlighting a history of torment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wer-
“to turn, twist, or bend”
Old English
Old English
wreccan
“to drive out, to persecute”
Middle English
Middle English
wrecche
“an outcast, a miserable person”
Modern English
English
wretch
“a person in a miserable or unfortunate state”