| 释义 |
▪ I. wretch, n. and a.|rɛtʃ|
Forms: α. 1 wrecca, wræcca, 2–5 wrecche, 2–3 wræcche, 3–4 wrehche, 3–5 wrechche, 4–5 wrechhe, wrechch, 5 wrecch, 3–6 wreche (5 Sc. werche), 4–5 wrech (5 Sc. werch), 4–6 wretche, 5– wretch (6 wreatch); 4 wroche, 8 dial. wrotch. β. 4–5 wrich, wriche (wirche), wryche, 5 wrycche, 6 wrytche. γ. Sc. 5–6 wrache (5 warche), 6 wratche, Sc. and dial. 9 wratch.
[OE. wrecca, wræcca, = OS. wrekkio, -eo (applied to the Magi), OHG. reccheo, reccho, etc., exile, adventurer, knight errant (MHG. and G. recke warrior, hero):—OTeut. *wrakja(n)-, f. the stem wrak-, wrek-: see wreak v. The contrast in the development of the meaning in Eng. and German is remarkable.]
A. n.
†1. One driven out of or away from his native country; a banished person; an exile.
The ME. instances are doubtful; they may be contextual uses of sense 2.
Beowulf 1137 Ða wæs winter scacen, fæᵹer foldan bearm; fundode wrecca, gist of ᵹeardum. c888ælfred Boeth. ii, Ða lioð þe ic wrecca ᵹeo lustbærlice song ic sceal nu heofiende singan. a1122O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 722, Ealdbriht wrecca ᵹewat on Suðreᵹe & on Suð Seaxe. c1386Chaucer Sec. Nun's Prol. 58 Now help thow..Me flemed wrecche in this desert of galle. c1450Ludus Coventriæ 26 Goo naked vngry and bare foot.., as wrecch in werlde þou wende. Ibid. 27, I wende as wrecch in welsom way.
2. One who is sunk in deep distress, sorrow, misfortune, or poverty; a miserable, unhappy, or unfortunate person; a poor or hapless being.
αc1000Boeth. Metr. x. 38 Ne mæᵹ mon æfre þy eð ænne wræccan his cræftes beniman. a1023Wulfstan Hom. vi. (1883) 45 Wræccena reaflac is on heora hamum. c1175Lamb. Hom. 109 Ȝif þe cristene mon bið sacful, and ȝif þe wrecche bið modi. a1225Ancr. R. 388 So heih ȝeoue nes neuer iȝiuen to so louwe wrecches. c1275Sinners beware 103 in O.E. Misc. 75 Nv weneþ ek þes wrecche Þat he ne þurue recche. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13564 Cowardie halp þer no wrecche. 1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 385 Mercy or almes is a wille of relevynge of a wreche oute of his mysese. c1410Hoccleve Mother of God 15 Modir of mercy,..Benigne confort of vs wrecches all! a1513Fabyan Chron. clvi. (1811) 145 He was..mylde and gracious to the poore, and marcyfull to wretchis and nedy. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades 125/1 Solomon the..happy king of Juda, bycause of his Idolatrie..is of a soudeine made a wretch of all other. 1623J. Taylor (Water P.) Discov. by Sea B 3 b, Poore wretches, which (were it not for your charity) would perish in your streetes. 1671T. Hunt Abeced. Scholast. 140 If money do fail a wretch thou art. a1721Prior 24 Songs iii. 8 She scorns to hear, or see, The wretch that lies so low as me. 1754Gray Pleasure 49 The Wretch, that long has tost On the thorny bed of Pain. 1810Southey Kehama iv. v, Even in the grave there is no rest for me, Cut off from that last hope, the wretch's joy. 1855Ld. Granville in Life (1905) I. 106 Being a bed-ridden wretch I do not venture to disobey you. 1868Morris Earthly Par. I. i. 349 O King, whom all the world henceforth shall know As wretched among wretches.
βa1300Cursor M. 23104 (Edinb.), Þar sal stand on his left side, Wrichis stad in waful wide. Ibid. 23236 Þe v. [pine of hell] es vndemenes of dint, Þat þa wriches þar sal hint. 1570Levins Manip. 150 A Wrytche, miser.
γc1375Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machar) 1010 Þan was þat wrache wondir wa.
b. Without article. (Freq. in apposition to a personal pronoun.)
c1200Ormin 10140 Þatt te birrþ forr þe lufe off Godd Wiþþ usell wrecche dælenn. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 294 Allas, wreche, hou may i duelle? c1350in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924) 63 God & man my spouse is—Wele aght me, wryche, to luf him dere. c140026 Pol. Poems 112/163, I, wreche, whyder shal y fle. 1509Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. (Percy Soc.) 65 Alas! I wretche and yet unhappy peke Into..trouble. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 2 Fynally I beseche all..to praye for me wretche. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. i. 2 For myself, poor wretch, I went..in my misery to Setuval. 1743Young Nt. Th. iv. 14 Imagination's fool, and error's wretch, Man makes a death, which nature never made. 1790Cowper On Receipt Mother's Picture 24 Hover'd thy spirit o'er thy sorrowing son, Wretch even then? 1821Shelley Hellas 909 Fond wretch! He leans upon his crutch, and talks of years To come. 1886W. J. Tucker E. Europe 36, I, poor wretch, in possession of nothing.
c. Used as a term of address.
c1175Lamb. Hom. 29 Weilawei wrecche,..al swa eða þu mihtest..smiten of þin aȝen heaueð. a1225Leg. Kath. 2049 Hu wrakeliche, wenestu, wule he, al o wraððe, wreken on þe, wrecche! c1230Hali Meid. 37 Ah, wrecche! Þe care aȝain þi pinunge þrahen binimeð þe nihtes slepes. c1400Destr. Troy 7178 A! wrecches vnwar, woo ys in our hond! a1550Image Hypocr. iii. 331 in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 437 Ye call that poore man wretch, As thoughe ye hadd no retche. 1615Chapman Odyss. xiv. 503 O wretch of Guests..thy Tale hath stirr'd My minde to much ruth. 1819Shelley Cenci v. ii. 34 Poor wretch, I pity thee.
d. Applied to animals, birds, or insects.
a1300Fox & Wolf in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 66 The wrecche binethe nothing ne vind, Bote cold water. c1480Henryson Swallow 1908 Thir hungrie birdis wretchis we may call. 1600Surflet Countrie Farme 628 Vpon them shall be fastened manie boordes or hurdles..for to pleasure this small wretch [sc. a silkworm] withall. 1602Ld. Cromwell iv. i. 47 Who sees the Cob-web intangle the poore Flie, May boldlie say the wretches death is nigh. 1627Drayton Nymphidia xxvii, Soone away the Waspe doth goe, Poore wretch was neuer frighted so. 1742Fielding J. Andrews iii. iv, This was the second time this squire had endeavoured to kill the little wretch [= a favourite dog]. Ibid. vi, The hare was no sooner on shore than it..listened to the sound of the pursuers. Fanny was wonderfully pleased with the little wretch. 1744Thomson Summer 273 The villain Spider.., fixing in the Wretch his cruel Fangs, Strikes backward. 1802G. V. Sampson Statist. Surv. Londonderry 210 As to the rearing of calves, there is a [cruel] superstition... As soon as the wretch is produced,..two persons..pull it most forcibly.
e. A person or little creature. (Used as a term of playful depreciation, or to denote slight commiseration or pity.)
c1450Merlin xxxiii. 683 He that was full fierce and prowde hadde shame to iuste with so litill a wrecche. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iii. 44 The pretty wretch lefte crying, & said I. 1599Breton Miseries Mauillia ii, With these last words, Farewell good mistresse, the good poore wretch..gave up the ghost. ― Scholler & Souldiour 30 Oh 'tis a heavenly noise to heare the sweete wretch [= the nightingale]. 1604Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 90 Excellent wretch: Perdition catch my Soule But I do loue thee. 1663Pepys Diary 25 May, She being a good-natured and painful wretch. 1749Fielding Tom Jones i. vii, Had you exposed the little wretch in the manner of some inhuman mothers. 1784Cowper Task iv. 12 He whistles as he goes, light-hearted wretch, Cold and yet cheerful. 1821Shelley Hellas 227 Swift as the radiant shapes of sleep From one whose dreams are Paradise Fly, when the fond wretch wakes to weep. 1850Kingsley A. Locke xxviii, Two little boys hailed us..—two little wretches with blue noses and white cheeks. 1891‘S. Mostyn’ Curatica 85, I see my wife wants me. The poor wretch is terribly jealous.
3. A vile, sorry, or despicable person; one of opprobrious or reprehensible character; a mean or contemptible creature. Also without article.
In very frequent use from c 1300.
αa1000Juliana 351 Hyre se feond oncwæð, wræcca wær⁓leas wordum mælde. c1230Hali Meid. 47 Þu prokest me to forgulten,..& waldes warpe me as wrecche i þi leirwite. c1250Gen. & Ex. 1074 Ðat folc vn-seli,..ðo sori wrecches of yuel blod. 1340Ayenb. 25 Þus him ioisseþ and him glorifieþ þe wreche ine his herte. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 169, I wolde be wreken on þis wrecches þat worchen so ille. 1402Hoccleve Let. Cupid 310 The feythles wrechch how hath he him for-swore. a1450Medit. Life & Pass. Christ 1139 Wiþ rugged nayles þe wrecches wode Nailed him hard to þe rode. 1555Philpot in Coverdale Lett. Martyrs (1564) 230 Vnto me moste vile, sinnefull, wicked and vnworthy wretch. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 337 These wretches entred into the Princesse Chamber, and brake her head. 1617J. Taylor (Water P.) Observ. & Trav. fr. London to Hamburgh C 4 b, [They] were amazed at the ingratitude of the wretch. 1687A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. I. 104 The perfidious wretch Theseus abandoned the poor Ariadne. 1715De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. i, Wretch that I am, how have I lived, as without God in the world. 1781Cowper Table-T. 30 Let eternal infamy pursue The wretch to nought but his ambition true. 1805J. Turnbull Voy. xvii. (1813) 212 The wickedness of the wretch who would import a cargo of spirituous liquors into the..Society Islands. 1855Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxix, If I be wretch enough to give place to the devil. 1883D. C. Murray Hearts xi, What wretches men were, to be sure!
β1377Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 78 Þe wrecches [Camb. MS. wrycches] of þis worlde is none ywar bi other. c1440York Myst. xxxi. 360 If any wight with þis wriche any werse wate werkis. c1450Mirk's Festial i. 2 He ys not but a wryche and slyme of erth.
γ1572Satir. Poems Reform. xxxii. 118 Consume this wratche with Brinstane. 1866–in Scottish glossaries, etc.
b. Used as a term of opprobrious address.
13..Sir Beues (A.) 1033 Brademond, olde wreche,..Ertow come Iosiane to feche? a1400–50Wars Alex. 4005 ‘A! wriches!’ quod þe wale kyng,..‘Eftir þe deth of ȝour duke quat deynes ȝowe to stryue?’ c1430Chev. Assigne 71 A, kowarde of kynde,..& combred wrecche! 1540Palsgr. Acolastus iv. v. V j b, Thou wretched person,..thou wretche that thou art. 1605Shakes. Lear iii. ii. 53 Tremble thou Wretch. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 93 Wretch!..look back upon a mis-spent Life. 1810Crabbe Borough xxii. 248 Wretch, dost thou repent? 1819Shelley Cenci i. iii. 90 Thou wretch! Will none among this noble company Check the abandoned villain?
c. Used without serious imputation of bad qualities.
1688Prior Ode vii, Levelling at God his wand'ring Guess..Laws to his Maker the learn'd Wretch can give. 1834Dickens Sk. Boz, Boarding-ho. i, Her ‘wretch of a husband’, as she inwardly called him. 1847Helps Friends in C. i. viii. 159 A wretch of a pedant who knows all about tetrameters.
†4. A niggardly or parsimonious person; a miser. Obs. (In later use chiefly Sc.)
1303R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6203 Þe wrecche saw hys tresoure sperd, And sette hym up yn hys bedde. 1340Ayenb. 188 Uor to ssette þe porses of þe wrechchen þet hi ne ssolle by open to do elmesse. c1386Chaucer Melib. ⁋634 Vse..thy richesses..that men haue no..cause to calle thee neiþer wrecche ne chynche. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xli. 5 Be nocht a wreche, nor skerche in ȝour spending. 1513Douglas æneid viii. Prol. 53 The wrache walis and wringis for this warldis wrak. 1540Palsgr. Acolastus ii. i. H iij b, Snayles..all the wynter season kepe theym within their shelles, lyuynge lyke a wretche. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 318 All wratchis may tak example be this man nocht to hurd vp thair siluir. 1673Wedderburn Voc. 23 (Jam.), Est valde avarus, he is a great wretch.
†5. A poor or paltry thing. Obs. rare—1.
a1300Prov. Hendyng 202 Þis worldes loue ys a wrecche.
6. Comb., as wretch-like.
1615Chapman Odyss. iv. 961 Th' abiect threshold [she] chose Of her faire chamber, for her loth'd repose; And mournd most wretch-like.
B. adj.
†1. Of persons: Poor; miserable; deeply afflicted; = wretched a. 1. Obs.
a1122O.E. Chron. an. 1083, Þa wreccan munecas laᵹon onbuton þam weofode. 1154Ibid. an. 1137, Wrecce men sturuen of hungær. c1175Lamb. Hom. 125 Alswa baldeliche mei þe wrechesta mon clepian drihtan him to federe. c1205Lay. 6556 Wha se hæfde richedom, he hine makede wræcche mon. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4187 Alas þou wrecche mon, woch mesaunture Aþ þe ybroȝt in to þis stede. 13..Guy Warw. (A.) 4811 Sche was a wriche wiman Þat michel sorwe so was an. 1398Trevisa Barth De P.R. vi. xiii. (Addit. MS.), No man is more wrecche noþir haþ more woo..þan he þat hath an yuel wif. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. 4151 Allas! I, woful creature,..I, wreche woman. c1450Mirk's Festial i. 47 Þenke how febull and how wrecche he ys, when he ys bore. 1556Olde Antichrist 158 The wretche people thinks they haue holpen a soule. 1596Spenser F.Q. vi. ix. 30 It is the mynd..That maketh wretch or happie.
†2. Of conditions, etc.: = wretched a. 2. Obs.
1131O.E. Chron. an. 1131, Crist ræde for þa wrecce muneces of Burch & for þæt wrecce stede. a1200in Fragm. ælfric's Gram., etc. (1838) 5 Þonne biþ þet wræcche lif iended. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4094 Þat we after hor wrecche deþ hor londes auonge. c1375Cursor M. 949 (Fairf.), Wende out of þis louesom lande, in-to þe wrecche werlde þou gange. 1583G. Babington Commandm. (1590) 60 Yet see, ah wretch, and woful plight,..Thy goodnesse to mee farre passeth all masters to their seruants.
†3. Despicable; vile; reprehensible. Obs.
a1200Vices & Virtues 103 Kiel mine wreche herte, þe is iattred of his manifealde fondinges. c1290Beket 1406 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 146 Ich drede for mine wrechche gultes þat worse worth þe ende. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9913 Þe wrecche luþer giwes. c1350in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924) 50 To holi chirche..pes þou sende, And to vs wreche sinful, lif wyt-outen ende. 1387Trevisa Higden III. 33 Sardanapallus was a man more wrecche þan eny womman.
†4. Of a paltry character; = wretched a. 3 b.
a1250Owl & Night. 335 Euer croweþ þi wrecche crey Þat he ne swikeþ nyht ne day.
▪ II. † wretch, v. Obs.
Also 5 wrecche, Sc. 7 wreche, 8–9 wratch.
[f. the n.]
1. trans. To render miserable.
a1513Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 302 Y⊇ fore namyd bisshop..contynuynge his tyrannyes,..greued y⊇ bisshop of Wynchester, and wretchyd nygh all y⊇ londe.
2. intr. To be or become niggardly or parsimonious. Sc.
a1598D. Ferguson Sc. Prov. (S.T.S.) 10 As the carle riches he wretches [Kelly (1721) wratches]. 1633W. Struther True Happiness 139 As the wretch wretcheth, the more he is enriched. [1853Trench Proverbs 104 The more the carle riches he wretches.] |