Wretchedly
/ˈrɛtʃɪdli/noun
In a miserable, unhappy, or very poor condition; in a deplorable manner.
Did you know?Wretchedly comes from the same Old English root as *retch* and originally carried the force of being driven out or in a miserable state, which is why it feels so harsh even now.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
wrecca
“An exile, outcast, or stranger”
Old English
OE
wreccan
“To drive out; to persecute, afflict”
Middle English
ME
wrecched
“Miserable, unfortunate, pitiable”
14th Century
English
wretchedly
“In a miserable or deplorable manner”
Modern English
English
wretchedly
“In a very miserable, unfortunate, or poor condition”