kempt

Originally a past participle of kemb, from Middle English kemben, from Old English cemban (“to comb”). Modern uses are back-formations from the negative unkempt. More at kemb.

• Rhymes: -ɛmpt

kempt

1. neat and tidy; especially used of hair
   • 1994 July 25, Jack Winter, “How I met my wife”, in The New Yorker:

     Her hair was kempt, her clothing shevelled, and she moved in a gainly way.

Less common than unkempt. Often used in compound well-kempt or phrase “well kempt”, which may be criticized as redundant; compare well-groomed, well-kept.

• well-groomed