— wretchedly , adv. — wretchedness , n.
/rech"id/ , adj., wretcheder, wretchedest .
1. very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.
2. characterized by or attended with misery and sorrow.
3. despicable, contemptible, or mean: a wretched miser.
4. poor, sorry, or pitiful; worthless: a wretched job of sewing.
[ 1150-1200; ME wrecchede. See WRETCH, -ED 3 ]
Syn. 1. dejected, distressed, afflicted, woeful, woebegone, forlorn, unhappy. 2. WRETCHED, MISERABLE, SORRY refer to that which is unhappy, afflicted, or distressed. WRETCHED refers to a condition of extreme affliction or distress, esp. as outwardly apparent: wretched hovels. MISERABLE refers more to the inward feeling of unhappiness or distress: a miserable life. SORRY applies to distressed, often poverty-stricken outward circumstances; but it has connotations of unworthiness, incongruousness, or the like, so that the beholder feels more contempt than pity: in a sorry plight. 3. base, vile.