pre-noun adjectival, noun
unhappy; sad; miserable; gloomy
Classical pre-noun adjectival form (rentaishi) used in literary or formal contexts. Often appears in set phrases like 憂き世 (the wretched world) or 憂き目 (bitter experience).
See also: 憂い (うい)
Though it is said to be the way of this wretched world, it's nothing but hardship.
After experiencing bitter misfortune, he became a completely different person.
wretched life; life of misery
Classical Japanese pre-noun form of the adjective 憂し (ushi), meaning 'sad' or 'wretched'. The modern equivalent is 憂い (ui).