[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

wretch \wretch\, n. oe. wrecche, as. wrecca, wraecca, an
   exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly,
   an exile, one driven out, akin to as. wraec an exile, os.
   wrekkio a stranger, ohg. reccheo an exile. see wreak, v.
   t.
   1913 webster
   1. a miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. "the wretch
      that lies in woe." --shak.
      1913 webster

            hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son,
            wretch even then, life's journey just begun?
                                                  --cowper.
      1913 webster

   2. one sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable
      person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.
      1913 webster

   note: wretch is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical
         pity or contempt, and sometimes to express tenderness;
         as we say, poor thing. "poor wretch was never frighted
         so." --drayton.
         1913 webster
see also:
wreak 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

wretch
     n 1: performs some wicked deed
     2: someone you feel sorry for syn: poor devil
see also:
poor devil 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

63 moby thesaurus words for "wretch":
   bowery bum, beachcomber, beggar, beggarly fellow, blackguard,
   blighter, budmash, bum, bummer, caitiff, cur, derelict, devil, dog,
   drifter, drunkard, good-for-naught, good-for-nothing, hobo,
   human wreck, knave, lowlife, martyr, mauvais sujet, mean wretch,
   mucker, no-good, object of compassion, pauvre diable, pilgarlic,
   poor creature, poor devil, prey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue,
   rotter, sad case, sad sack, scalawag, scoundrel, scum,
   skid-row bum, skunk, snake, stiff, stinkard, stinker, sufferer,
   sundowner, swagman, toad, tramp, truant, vag, vagabond, vagrant,
   vaurien, victim, villain, wastrel, worm, worthless fellow

Wretch >> W Words
Wretch, definition of term: Wretch
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