King James Bible Dictionary

WRETCHED, adjective

1. Very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief.

The wretched find no friends.

2. Calamitous; very afflicting; as the wretched condition of slaves in Algiers.

3. Worthless; paltry; very poor or mean; as a wretched poem; a wretched cabin.

4. Despicable; hatefully vile and contemptible. He was guilty of wretched ingratitude.

WRETCHEDLY, adverb

1. Most miserably; very poorly. The prisoners were wretchedly lodged.

2. Unhappily; as two wars wretchedly entered upon.

3. Meanly; despicable; as a discourse wretchedly delivered.

WRETCHEDNESS, noun

1. Extreme misery or unhappiness, either from want or sorrow; as the wretchedness of poor mendicants.

We have, with the feeling, most the very memory of such wretchedness as our forefathers endured--

The prodigal brought nothing to his father but his rags and wretchedness

2. Meanness; despicableness; as the wretchedness of a performance.