wrecca

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *wrakkjō. Cognate with Old Saxon wrekkio, Old High German recko (German Recke (“warrior”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈwret.t͡ʃɑ/

Noun

wreċċa m

  1. exile, outcast
    • 10th century, The Seafarer:
      Þæt sē mon ne wāt þe him on foldan fæġrost limpeð, hū iċ earmċeariġ īsċealdne sǣ winter wunade wræċċan lāstum, winemǣgum bidroren, bihongen hrīmġiċelum; hæġl sċūrum flēag.
      The man does not know that who befalls most fairly on land, how wretched I dwelt winter on ice-cold sea by outcast’s paths, bereft of kinsmen, behung with frost-icicles; hail flew by showers.

Usage notes

  • This word refers to a person who is exiled. The word for the state of being exiled is wræc.

Declension

Weak:

singular plural
nominative wreċċa wreċċan
accusative wreċċan wreċċan
genitive wreċċan wreċċena
dative wreċċan wreċċum

Descendants

  • Middle English: wrecche
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