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Wretch vs Wench - What's the difference?

wretch | wench |

In archaic terms the difference between wretch and wench

is that wretch is an exile while wench is a promiscuous woman.

As nouns the difference between wretch and wench

is that wretch is an unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person while wench is a young woman, especially a servant.

As a verb wench is

to frequent prostitutes; to womanize.

wretch

English

Noun

(es)
  • An unhappy, unfortunate, or miserable person.
  • *{{quote-book
    • , year=1742 , author=Henry Fielding , title=Joseph Andrews , chapter=12 citation , passage=The poor wretch , who lay motionless a long time, just began to recover his senses as a stage-coach came by.}}
  • *{{quote-book
    • , year=1789 , author=Watkin Tench , title=The Expedition to Botany Bay , chapter=14 citation , passage=The four unhappy wretches labouring under sentence of banishment were freed from their fetters, to rejoin their former society; and three days given as holidays to every convict in the colony.}}
  • An unpleasant, annoying person.
  • *{{quote-book
    • , year=1740 , author=Samuel Richardson , title=Pamela , chapter=71 citation , passage=Swear to me but, thou bold wretch ! said she, swear to me, that Pamela Andrews is really and truly thy lawful wife, without sham, without deceit, without double-meaning; and I know what I have to say!}}
  • *{{quote-book
    • , year=1823 , author=Walter Scott , title=Saint Ronan's Well , chapter=32 citation , passage=I asked that selfish wretch , Winterblossom, to walk down with me to view her distress, and the heartless beast told me he was afraid of infection!}}
  • (archaic) An exile. (rfex)

    • External links

    * * *

    wench

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • (archaic) A young woman, especially a servant.
  • * W. Black
    • He was received by the daughter of the house, a pretty, buxom, blue-eyed little wench .
  • (archaic) A promiscuous woman.
  • * Spectator
    • It is not a digression to talk of bawds in a discourse upon wenches .
  • (US, dated) A black woman; a negress.

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To frequent prostitutes; to womanize.
  • * 2011 , [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/3091.html]:
    • Wining and wenching , baby!