古英語の wrecca, exile, deportee から。語源は PIE *wreg, to drive, to drive out で、語源的には urgent, wreck と同じで、もともとは悪党、極悪人、のちに不幸な人、貧しい人を指すようになった。
英語の語源
wretch (n.)
Old English wrecca "wretch, stranger, exile," from Proto-Germanic *wrakjon "pursuer; one pursued" (cognates: Old Saxon wrekkio, Old High German reckeo "a banished person, exile," German recke "renowned warrior, hero"), related to Old English wreccan "to drive out, punish" (see wreak). "The contrast in the development of the meaning in Eng. and German is remarkable" [OED]. Sense of "vile, despicable person" developed in Old English, reflecting the sorry state of the outcast, as presented in Anglo-Saxon verse (such as "The Wanderer"). Compare German Elend "misery," from Old High German elilenti "sojourn in a foreign land, exile."
例文
1. Before the poor wretch had time to speak，he was shot.
この哀れな人は口を開く暇もなく銃に当たった。
2.Oh，what have you done，you wretch ！
おお、何をしたんだ、この野郎！
3.You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.
お礼を言わないだけでなく、文句を言っているなんて、いいか悪いかわからない。
4.The miserable wretch lost his all.
この卑しい骨は彼のすべてを失った。
5.What would she do about that？The confounded wretch ！