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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wre(t)ch(e, Wra(t)ch(e, n. Also: wrecch, (wretth(e), vratche, (wracco), werch, warch. [ME and e.m.E. wrecche (c1175), wrich (Cursor M.), wreche (Ayenbite), wretche (1509), OE wrecca.]

1. An unfortunate person; a poor, miserable creature. Freq. applied to oneself. Also proverb. b. transf. Of a bird: A poor little thing. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 470 (see Waful adj.).
Werch & waful a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1010.
He to de was sare agaste … Than was that wrache wondir wa c1400 Troy-bk. ii 858.
Pete ta Of this wreche … Pollycena c1450-2 Howlat 252 (A).
I am deformed Be nature … Wreche of all wretches c1475 Wall. xi 577.
Off him selff litill as than he rocht. ‘O wrech!’ he said, ‘that neuir couth be content’ 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 963.
‘Ȝone catiue had blasphemit me' … 'Na wretchis word may depair ȝour hie name' 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 152 (Sm.).
Sathan … Prince in that dolorus den of wo … Nocht God tharof, bot gretast wreche of all 1513 Doug. ix viii 87.
Wrach 1542 Misc. Bann. C. I 10.
It bicommes not me, a wretche destitude of all good lernynge & eloquence, to interturbe your noble Grace 1570 Sat. P. xxxii 46.
In hoill … we byde, As wratches … Dar not keik out for rebellis that dois ryde 1558-66 Knox I 65.
Me the moist cative and miserable wrache 1584–5 Cal. Sc. P. VII 540.
Vratche 1580-92 James VI Lusus Reg. 31.
The prouerbe makis relation That lykes in tribulation Is wratchis consolation 1609 Garden Garden 34.
Look, Lord, … And view vs wratches … Guide vs … Whom thou electsproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 89.
As long lives the merrie man as the wretch a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 242.
A wretch dois nathing richt but when he deis a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 257.
A wretch came never to worschip in his tymeb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 57.
O lytill wrecch allace … Opyn thy throte hastow no lest to sing? … , suete bird [etc.]

2. A poor person, one without riches or resources. c1420 Ratis R. 52.
Thai … fallys hail fra thare esstate, Baith landys and lordschipis … And worthis wrechis, bondis, threllis c1450-2 Howlat 43 (A).
Ane pure mane Solpit in sorowe that sadly couth say ‘Wa is me wretche in this warld wilsome of wane c1450-2 Howlat 960 (A).
I couth nocht won in to welth wreth [B. wretch] wast a1568 Bann. MS 79b/33.
A wrech to weir a noble skarlet goun … It may weill ryme bot it accordis nocht

3. A despicable person, one capable of mean, vile or wicked behaviour.(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii 309.
Waful wrech, I sa thé now, That lestand ded de sall thu For Cristis folk that thu has slane c1475 Wall. xi 148.
Lordys and ladiis honoryd him … Wrechys and schrewis ay had him at inwy a1500 Quare Jel. 307.
This wrech that hot is jelusye 1608 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 138.
I wer to be accoumptit the most ingrat wrech that euer had lyf gif euer I had sufferit any such thought [etc.] 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. vii 1.
Enviouse wretch, on earth the most ingrait(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 251.
Dacyane lud cane rare One his tormentouris … 'werchis [etc.]'(c) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2598 (B).
Tha wratchis that will nocht wirk c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5981.
Than sall thay say … 'Gude Lorde quhen saw we Thé … Houngry [etc.] … ’ Than sall that … Kyng Tyll those wrachis mak answeryng [etc.] 1570 Sat. P. xxxii 118.
Consume this wratche with brinstane … That persecuitis thy sanctis 1601 Melvill 494.
He is a wratche … Wha is ingrat ?a1648 Polemo-Mid. 159.
Exit Corngreivus, wracco omnia tendere videns(d) a1400 Leg. S. xxii 479.
O ȝe warchis vnhappy Se ȝe nocht … That ȝoure colis refreschis me

4. An avaricious person, a miser. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1916.
Thir hungrie birdis wretchis we may call Ay scraipand in this warldis vane plesance Greddie to gadder gudis temporall a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 973 (Asl.).
The end of auarice, O wretchis, now aduert Judas throw covatice … Hyngit him self c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 38/5.
Be nocht a wreche nor skerche in ȝour spending 1528 Lynd. Dreme 1076.
Be nocht ane wrache … Kyngis … ar neuer conuenabyll To rewle … be thay nocht lyberall 1535 Stewart 51663.
It causis all man for to louit be In quhome is fundin liberalitie And be the contrair also wrachitnes, … The quhilk is knawin for ane wrache or dring, He is haittit 1551 Hamilton Cat. 98.
All wrechis that wyl be ground ryche … quhay be fraud, falset and gyle twynnis men and thair geir 15.. Clar. iii 1405.
He was no wratch … That hes pairtit with so rich ane jewell a1578 Pitsc. II 318/18.
All wratchis may tak example be this man nocht to hurd vp thair siluir a1585 Arbuthnot in Maitl. Q. 122/104.
Ȝit dar I not in commoun place be sein Les I be clothit sumquhat gorgeouslie And be I not then men sal talk of me And call me ather wratche or indigent 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 17a.
Ane wreche or gredie man a1646 Wedderburn Voc. 23.
Est valde avarus, he is a great wretch 1660-7 Naphtali (1693) 395.
Covetous wretthes