▪ I. † wreche, n. Obs.
Forms: α. 3 wræche, 3–6 wreche, 4–6 wrech, 4 wrieche, 4–5 wreeche, 5 wreach. β. 3–4 wrache, 5 wrach. γ. 4–5 wrecche (4 vrecche), 5–6 wretche.
[The normal representative of an OE. wrǽc (with palatal c) fem., of which however the existing texts present no example which can be definitely distinguished from wr{aebreve}c neut., wrack n.1 (A possible instance occurs in Riddles ii. 4, if the reading wræce is correct.) The vowel of wrǽc (:—earlier *wrāk-jō) corresponds to that of OFris. wrêke, wrêtse (NFris. wrêk, wräk), OS. wrâka, wrêka (MLG. wrâke; MDu. wrāke, Du. wraak), OHG. râhha (MHG. râche, G. rache), Goth. wrêkei.
The β-forms partly represent a south-eastern variant of wrǽche, and are partly due to confusion with wrake wrake n.; the γ-forms show assimilation (in some instances merely graphic) to wrecche wretch n. The normal spelling, if the word had survived into modern English, would have been wreach or wreech.]
1. Retributive punishment; vengeance; = wreak n. 1.
In very frequent use from c 1290 to c 1450.
| α c 1200 Ormin Introd. 19 Forr þatt wass mikell wræche wiss Þatt all follc for till helle. c 1205 Lay. 29581 Vre drihte..his wreche sende an wræstliche þan folke. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 552 So cam on werlde wreche and wrake. a 1333 W. Herebert in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924) 20 Nou, dame, ich þe byseche At þylke day of wreche..spek uor me. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 230 Ȝet wrathed not þe wyȝ, ne þe wrech saȝtled. c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 625 The wreche of god hym smoot so cruelly, That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iii. viii. 55 Euer haue they in theyr hertes holden wreeche and rancour. 1477 Norton Ord. Alch. i. in Ashm. (1652) 15 For doubt of such pride and wreach, He must be ware that will this Science teach. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 469 To kepe þis place from wreche. |
| Personif. 1413 26 Pol. Poems 53 Euere by trouþe stondes wreche, For wreche is goddis champioun. c 1460 Wisdom 698 in Macro Plays 58 Let se: cum in, Indignacion & Sturdynes,.. Wreche, & Dyscorde expres. |
| β c 1200 [see 1 b β]. c 1320 Cast. Love (H.) 1560 The eyȝhte day betokynth gret wrache. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 204 He forȝet alle his fre þewes, & wex wod to þe wrache, for wrath at his hert. c 1450 Mirk's Festial. i. 36 And for wrach schuld falle on hymselfe yn party, þerfor [etc.]. 1535 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xviii. xii. 315 b/1 Some [bees] for grete wrath and desyre of wrache stingethe soo depe, that [etc.]. |
| γ 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1585 Þus him vel vrecche of god, vor he þe apostles slou. c 1330 King of Tars 658 Leef on hym that strengor is, For doute of more wrecche [rimes teche, leche]. 1387 Trevisa Hidgen I. 253 Anon þe pride of Romayns,..oþer som oþer wrecche of God all myȝti falleþ vppon hem. a 1470 H. Parker Dives & Pauper (W. de W. 1496) i. xxix. 67/2 Harde wretche was comyng but yf they wolde amende them of her falshode. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vi. (1811) 147 Hir eyen dystylled dropes of blode,..the which, in token of Goddes wretche, in y{supt} boke remayne at this day. |
b. In the
phr. to do wreche,
have wreche,
make wreche,
nim wreche,
seek wreche, and
esp. take wreche. (
Cf. wreak n. 1 b.)
| α c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 29 Ȝef þu wreche ne secst hwanne þu time siest. a 1240 Ureisun 107 in O.E. Hom. I. 197 Ȝif þu heuedest wreche inumen of mine luðernesse. c 1275 Duty of Christians 56 in O.E. Misc. 143 Elles vre louerd god on vs wulle don wreche. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1334 Ichabbe of him wreche inou, wanne he bisecþ min ore. a 1300 in E.E.P. (1862) 4 Tak wrech of sinful man. 13.. K. Horn 1292 (Harl. MS.), Þat lond ichulle þorhreche & do mi fader wreche. 1340 Ayenb. 45 He heþ ynome to lite wreche. c 1350 Will. Palerne 3404 [They] þouȝt manli to make wreche here lorde to queme. c 1425 Eng. Conq. Ireland 120 Yn hope þat god shold take wrech of ham. c 1430 Syr. Gener. (Roxb.) 6396 Generides, youre lord, now besech On this mater to doo som wrech. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xii. 244 Be war lest god wele taken wreche. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. ii. (1811) 24 This Appolyn toke wreche of theim that spoyled the goddes & theyr Temples. 1529 Rastell Pastyme (1811) 138 To take wrech for the cruell murder of his nevew. |
| β c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 51 He nam stronge wrache þer-of. c 1325 Chron. Eng. 724 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 300 Hou schulde he speren eni mon Wen he of bestes wrache nom? |
2. An act or instance of vengeance;
= wreak n. 2.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 641 On wreche ðat sal ȝet wurðen sent, wan al ðis werld wurðe brent. Ibid. 2985 Ðe ðridde wreche dede aaron Bi-foren ðe king pharaon. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 229 Fro heuen to helle þat hatel schor laste... Þis hit was a brem brest & a byge wrache. 1387 Trevisa Higden II. 329 Egipte was i-smyte wiþ ten grete wreches. 1398 ― Barth. De P.R. ix. xxi. (Tollem. MS.), God sente mo wreches upon þe Egyptians þan ten. a 1425 Cursor M. 5943 (Trin.), Fast on god þo gon þei cal To delyuer þe folke of þat wreche. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. (1811) 241 By reason of a wreche done..vpon one of Kynge Wyllyams knyghtes. |
3. Affliction or calamity; deep distress, misery.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3396 Ȝet sal ðe kinde of amalech Ben al fled dun in deades wrech. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love i. i. (Skeat) l. 60 Thinke on your wreche and your daunger. a 1400 Leg. Rood (1871) 138 Lord of loue..For Þe was set sely sacrynge, To winne þe world þat was in wreche. c 1450 Ludus Coventriæ 327 Cryst..hath us wonnyn owt of wreche. 1460–70 Bk. Quintessence 19 Siþ þat deuelis be dampned, & ful of wreche of helle. |
b. to go to wreche, to go to wrack.
rare—1.
| 13.. Body & Soul 242 in Map's Poems (Camden) 343 Thyn other thing, nou thou art ded, Al schal geynliche gon to wreche. |
▪ II. † wreche, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec.] 1. trans. To rescue or deliver;
= wreak v. 5 d.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 16076 Þat bischop cam, his folk to preche, Þer Cristendam fro Paen wreche [v.r. to reche]. |
2. refl. To avenge (oneself).
| 1398 Trevisa Glanvil De P.R. xviii. vii. (Bodl. MS.), Þe bore..takeþ herte and strengþe to wreche hym of his adversarye wiþ his tuskes. |
3. To give effect to (wrath, etc.);
= wreak v. 3.
| c 1420 Lydg. Ballad Commend. Our Lady 41 Or þe wycked fend his wrath up on us wreche [rime leche]. |
Hence
† ˈwrecher, an avenger (
of some wrong).
| a 1325 Prose Psalter viii. 3 Þat þou destruye þe enemy and þe wrecher [L. ultorem] of Adam sinne. |