kemptadj.
/kɛm(p)t/, U.S. /kɛm(p)t/ Of hair or wool: Combed. Also with adverbs. Cf. unkempt adj., well-kempt adj. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [adjective] > wool
kemptc1050
untrendc1535
rudge-washed1592
scribbled1682
trended1777
untrended1805
ridge-washed1811
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [adjective] > combed
kemptc1050
well-kempt1327
combed1870
teased1965
the world > relative properties > order > [adjective] > in proper order
uprighta1529
untumbled1675
square1825
straight1831
Bristol-fashion1840
kempt1929
c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 387/23 De stuppe stamineo, be cemdan wearpe.
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 426 Ȝif a man haue a kempt hed þanne he is a leccherous man.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid x. xiv. 19 Hys weyll kemmyt berd.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 228 A distaffe, drest and trimmed with kembed wool.
1863 A. D. Whitney Faith Gartney (1869) iv. 30 Carefully kempt tresses.
1867 J. B. Rose tr. Virgil Æneis 307 His kempt beard adown his bosom spread.
1905 Daily Chron. 15 June 4/4 The little girls wear clean pinafores; their hair is neatly kempt.
1929 R. Aldington Death of Hero iii. xii. 398 The street paving was badly worn, but looked marvellously smooth and kempt to Winterbourne.
1951 W. Sansom Face of Innocence i. 1 The kempt yellow gravel of drives.
a1954 F. B. Young Wistanslow (1956) 113 A spacious expanse of greensward, smooth and kempt as the ancient turf of an Oxford college.
1975 Times 21 July 10/7 Artificially beautified people looking kempt and highly coloured for the hairdressers' and beauticians' trade fair.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.c1050