American Dictionary of the English Language

WRETCH, noun

1. A miserable person; one sunk in the deepest distress; as a forlorn wretch

2. A worthless mortal; as a contemptible wretch

3. A person sunk in vice; as a profligate wretch

4. It is sometimes used by way of slight or ironical pity or contempt.

Poor wretch was never frighted so.

5. It is sometimes used to express tenderness; as we say, poor thing.