\Wretch\, n. [OE. wrecche, AS. wrecca, wr[ae]cca, an
exile, a wretch, fr. wrecan to drive out, punish; properly,
an exile, one driven out, akin to AS. wr[ae]c an exile, OS.
wrekkio a stranger, OHG. reccheo an exile. See {Wreak}, v.
t.]
1. A miserable person; one profoundly unhappy. ``The wretch
   that lies in woe.'' --Shak.
         Hovered thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son, Wretch
         even then, life's journey just begun? --Cowper.
2. One sunk in vice or degradation; a base, despicable
   person; a vile knave; as, a profligate wretch.
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.