a. ? Obs. [Erron. form of retchless, obs. var. of RECKLESS a.]
Also 1609 Daniel, Compl. Rosamond, lii.; 1617 Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. 385; Ibid. (1662), Serm., vi. § 33 (in Eccl. Pol., 302); 1669 Heylyn, Cosmogr., II. 200; 1689 Sanderson, Serm., 389; 1710 Cowley, Cutter Colman St., Pref.; 1714 Quarles, Feast for Worms, Med. i., where however the earlier edd. have rech-, retch(e)lesse, retchless.
1. Of persons: Heedless, careless, imprudent; = RECKLESS a. 1.
1598. Tofte, Alba (1880), 85. Thus (carefull I) doe care for careless thee, Whilst wretchles thou, makst no account of mee.
1617. Greene’s Arbasto, v. D 3. A fit reuenge for so wretchlesse an enemy.
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power Parl., IV. App. 20. The people fell away from their wretchlesse and lascivious king.
1666. [see RECKLESS a. 1].
1681. Gesta Rom., v. B 3. This young Lord … sought many Realms, and found many wretchless fools.
1853. Trench, Prov. (ed. 2), 136. The motto of some, who … become utterly wretchless, caring not … how much further they advance.
2. Heedless of something; = RECKLESS a. 2.
1661. Rust, Origen’s Opin., 37. Some in their charge, who … are … wretchless and insensible of all wholesome counsels.
3. Marked or characterized by heedlessness or carelessness; = RECKLESS a. 3.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 473. The vnmercifull regard which wretchlesse and childish mindes beare towardes the greatest labors and deserts of the best men.
1633. [see RECKLESS a. 3].
1656. Osborne, Observ. Turks, § 15. This … doth often hurry such as have had their hopes deluded … into wretchlesse Infidelity.
1673. R. Allestree, Ladies Calling, I. v. § 74. 140. The comprehensive description of the most wretchless profligated state of sin.
Hence † Wretchlessly adv. Obs.
1615. Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov., 87. Hee doth vpbraid him with … folly, which would so wretchlesly, and sinfully depart with that.
? 16[?]. in Strype’s Eccl. Mem., III. App. 124. Cursed are al they that do the Lord’s busines wretchlesly.
