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 wræc neut., WRACK sb.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 sb.; the γ-forms show assimilation (in some instances merely graphic) to wrecche WRETCH sb. The normal spelling, if the word had survived into modern English, would have been wreach or wreech.]
1. Retributive punishment; vengeance; = WREAK sb. 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 [rhymes teche, leche].
1387. Trevisa, Higden, 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 yt boke remayne at this day.
b. In the phr. to do, have, make, nim, seek, and esp. take wreche. (Cf. WREAK sb. 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., 723, 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 sb. 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. Ibid. (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 owl 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.
