wretch

Etymology 1

From Middle English wrecche, from Old English wreċċa (“exile, outcast”), from Proto-Germanic *wrakjô (“exile, fugitive, warrior”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“to track, follow”). Doublet of garçon.

noun

1. An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.
   The poor wretch, who lay motionless a long time, just began to recover his senses as a stage-coach came by. 1742, Henry Fielding, chapter 12, in Joseph Andrews, archived from the original on 2012-04-05
   The four unhappy wretches labouring under sentence of banishment were freed from their fetters, to rejoin their former society; and three days given as holidays to every convict in the colony. 1789, Watkin Tench, chapter 14, in The Expedition to Botany Bay, archived from the original on 2011-03-03
2. An unpleasant, annoying, worthless, or despicable person.
   Swear to me but, thou bold wretch! said she, swear to me, that Pamela Andrews is really and truly thy lawful wife, without sham, without deceit, without double-meaning; and I know what I have to say! 1740, Samuel Richardson, chapter 71, in Pamela
   I asked that selfish wretch, Winterblossom, to walk down with me to view her distress, and the heartless beast told me he was afraid of infection! 1823, Walter Scott, chapter 32, in Saint Ronan's Well, archived from the original on 2012-04-15
3. (archaic) An exile.

Etymology 2

verb

1. Misspelling of retch.