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wretch·ed

(rĕchĭd)

adj. wretch·ed·er, wretch·ed·est

1. In a deplorable state of distress or misfortune; miserable: "the wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages" (George Orwell).

2. Characterized by or attended with misery or woe: a wretched life.

3. Of a poor or mean character; dismal: a wretched building.

4. Contemptible; despicable: wretched treatment of the patients.

5. Of very inferior quality: wretched prose.

[Middle English wrecched, from wrecche, wretch; see WRETCH.]

wretched·ly adv.

wretched·ness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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