Wretched
/ˈrɛtʃ.ɪd/noun
In a very unhappy or unfortunate state; miserable.
Did you know?The word 'wretched' has roots in Old English that evoke imagery of being cast out, connecting to the idea of being forsaken or abandoned.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wrikō
“to twist or turn, implying a sense of misfortune or discomfort.”
Old English
OE
wrecca
“a banished or exiled person, often viewed as a miserable outcast.”
Old English
OE
wretched
“to be cast away or rejected, leading to a state of misery.”
Middle English
ME
wrecched
“miserable or unfortunate, reflecting a state of distress.”
Modern English
Eng
wretched
“describing someone in a state of deep unhappiness or misfortune.”
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