Obs. In 3–4 wrecched- (4 wrocched-), 4 wrecchid-, 3–4 wrechid-, 3–5 wrechedhede (4 -hed, 5 -heed). [f. WRETCHED a. + -hede HEDE 2. Cf. WRETCHHEAD.] The state or condition of being a wretch or wretched person; wretchedness, misery.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter cvi. 47. [God] helped poure fra wrecchedhede.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 23. Crist … us teches For to forsak this werdes winne Ful of wrechedhed and sinne.
13[?]. Cursor M., 1141 (Gött.). For þi ill wreched-hede [Trin. wrecched hede] Þu sal lede euer þi liif in nede.
a. 1400. in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 240. Whan y þenk vp-on my dede…, Dede torneþ into wrecchidhede.
