Obs. Forms: 3 wræccheliche, wreccheliȝ, 3–4 -lyche, 4 wrecheli, 5 Sc. wrechly. [f. WRETCH a. + -LY2.] In a wretched or distressing manner; miserably.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3326. And tohh þatt Godd wass … wundenn þær swa wreccheliȝ Wiþþ clutess inn an cribbe.
c. 1205. Lay., 12096. Ne miðte hit na mon telle Þet weoren æi wimman Swa wræcchelichen atoȝene. Ibid., 30554. Þa wes he wræccheliche of-lust after deores flæsce.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 88. I wrouthe wrecheli now & wraþede drihten.
13[?]. Chron. R. Glouc. (Hearne), 9157. Ac [þe] kyng … nom hym vaste, And in prison hym huld, & wrecchelyche he deyde atte laste.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxiii. (Seven Sleepers), 161. Sa þat þai suld … for hungyre de wrechly.
So † Wretchlike adv. Obs. rare–1.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3708. To libbenn her onn eorþe Full wrecchelike inn uselldom Off metess & off claþess.
