30 uses
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Definition
someone you feel sorry for
or:
a person of bad character
or:
a person of bad character
- Be silent, wretch, and think not here allow'd That worst of tyrants, an usurping crowd.Book 2 (25% in)
- With indignation sparkling in his eyes, He views the wretch, and sternly thus replies: "Peace, factious monster, born to vex the state, With wrangling talents form'd for foul debate: Curb that impetuous tongue, nor rashly vain, And singly mad, asperse the sovereign reign.Book 2 (31% in)
- Who dares, inglorious, in his ships to stay, Who dares to tremble on this signal day; That wretch, too mean to fall by martial power, The birds shall mangle, and the dogs devour.Book 2 (46% in)
- O son of Tydeus, cease! be wise and see How vast the difference of the gods and thee; Distance immense! between the powers that shine Above, eternal, deathless, and divine, And mortal man! a wretch of humble birth, A short-lived reptile in the dust of earth.Book 5 (49% in)
- First rosy Venus felt his brutal rage; Me next he charged, and dares all heaven engage: The wretch would brave high heaven's immortal sire, His triple thunder, and his bolts of fire."Book 5 (51% in)
- On valour's side the odds of combat lie, The brave live glorious, or lamented die; The wretch who trembles in the field of fame, Meets death, and worse than death, eternal shame!"Book 5 (59% in)
- Nor fail'd the crime the immortals' wrath to move; (The immortals bless'd with endless ease above;) Deprived of sight by their avenging doom, Cheerless he breathed, and wander'd in the gloom, Then sunk unpitied to the dire abodes, A wretch accursed, and hated by the gods!Book 6 (28% in)
- Oh, would kind earth the hateful wretch embrace, That pest of Troy, that ruin of our race!Book 6 (53% in)
- O wretch ill-fated, and thy country's foe!Book 6 (61% in)
- Then let me add what yet remains behind, A thought unfinish'd in that generous mind; Age bids me speak! nor shall the advice I bring Distaste the people, or offend the king: "Cursed is the man, and void of law and right, Unworthy property, unworthy light, Unfit for public rule, or private care, That wretch, that monster, who delights in war; Whose lust is murder, and whose horrid joy, To tear his country, and his kind destroy!Book 9 (13% in)
- Fight or not fight, a like reward we claim, The wretch and hero find their prize the same.Book 9 (51% in)
- Then tell him: loud, that all the Greeks may hear, And learn to scorn the wretch they basely fear; (For arm'd in impudence, mankind he braves, And meditates new cheats on all his slaves; Though shameless as he is, to face these eyes Is what he dares not: if he dares he dies;) Tell him, all terms, all commerce I decline, Nor share his council, nor his battle join; For once deceiv'd, was his; but twice were mine, No—let the stupid prince, whom Jove deprives Of sense and justice, run...Book 9 (59% in)
- Against the trembling wood The wretch stood propp'd, and quiver'd as he stood; A sudden palsy seized his turning head; His loose teeth chatter'd, and his colour fled; The panting warriors seize him as he stands, And with unmanly tears his life demands.Book 10 (66% in)
- Or art some wretch by hopes of plunder led, Through heaps of carnage, to despoil the dead?Book 10 (68% in)
- Sternly he spoke, and as the wretch prepared With humble blandishment to stroke his beard, Like lightning swift the wrathful falchion flew, Divides the neck, and cuts the nerves in two; One instant snatch'd his trembling soul to hell, The head, yet speaking, mutter'd as it fell.Book 10 (77% in)
- These other spoils from conquer'd Dolon came, A wretch, whose swiftness was his only fame; By Hector sent our forces to explore, He now lies headless on the sandy shore."Book 10 (97% in)
- These words, attended with the flood of tears, The youths address'd to unrelenting ears: The vengeful monarch gave this stern reply: "If from Antimachus ye spring, ye die; The daring wretch who once in council stood To shed Ulysses' and my brother's blood, For proffer'd peace! and sues his seed for grace?Book 11 (21% in)
- Ah, wretch! no father shall thy corpse compose; Thy dying eyes no tender mother close; But hungry birds shall tear those balls away, And hovering vultures scream around their prey.Book 11 (60% in)
- So may he perish, so may Jove disclaim The wretch relentless, and o'erwhelm with shame!Book 14 (29% in)
- To elder brothers guardian fiends are given, To scourge the wretch insulting them and heaven.Book 15 (27% in)
- Hector (this said) rush'd forward on the foes: With equal ardour Melanippus glows: Then Ajax thus—"O Greeks! respect your fame, Respect yourselves, and learn an honest shame: Let mutual reverence mutual warmth inspire, And catch from breast to breast the noble fire, On valour's side the odds of combat lie; The brave live glorious, or lamented die; The wretch that trembles in the field of fame, Meets death, and worse than death, eternal shame."Book 15 (74% in)
- All-impotent of aid, transfix'd with grief, Unhappy Glaucus heard the dying chief: His painful arm, yet useless with the smart Inflicted late by Teucer's deadly dart, Supported on his better hand he stay'd: To Phoebus then ('twas all he could) he pray'd: "All-seeing monarch! whether Lycia's coast, Or sacred Ilion, thy bright presence boast, Powerful alike to ease the wretch's smart; O hear me! god of every healing art!Book 16 (61% in)
- E'en these with words Insult the brave, who tremble at their swords: The weakest atheist-wretch all heaven defies, But shrinks and shudders when the thunder flies.Book 20 (72% in)
- He foams with fury, and exclaims aloud: "Wretch! thou hast 'scaped again; once more thy flight Has saved thee, and the partial god of light.Book 20 (88% in)
- Pity, while yet I live, these silver hairs; While yet thy father feels the woes he bears, Yet cursed with sense! a wretch, whom in his rage (All trembling on the verge of helpless age) Great Jove has placed, sad spectacle of pain!Book 22 (15% in)
- No, wretch accursed! relentless he replies; (Flames, as he spoke, shot flashing from his eyes;) Not those who gave me breath should bid me spare, Nor all the sacred prevalence of prayer.Book 22 (66% in)
- Heedless, they who boast Both parents still, nor feel what he has lost, Shall cry, 'Begone! thy father feasts not here:' The wretch obeys, retiring with a tear.Book 22 (97% in)
- Wretch that I am! my bravest offspring slain.Book 24 (33% in)
- As when a wretch (who, conscious of his crime, Pursued for murder, flies his native clime) Just gains some frontier, breathless, pale, amazed, All gaze, all wonder: thus Achilles gazed: Thus stood the attendants stupid with surprise: All mute, yet seem'd to question with their eyes: Each look'd on other, none the silence broke, Till thus at last the kingly suppliant spoke: "Ah think, thou favour'd of the powers divine!Book 24 (59% in)
- Two urns by Jove's high throne have ever stood, The source of evil one, and one of good; From thence the cup of mortal man he fills, Blessings to these, to those distributes ill; To most he mingles both: the wretch decreed To taste the bad unmix'd, is cursed indeed; Pursued by wrongs, by meagre famine driven, He wanders, outcast both of earth and heaven.Book 24 (67% in)
There are no more uses of "wretch" in The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Pope).
Typical Usage
(best examples)