ppl. a. Now arch. Forms: 1 cemd-, 5 kempte, kembyd, 6 kemmyt, kemt, 5–7 kembed, 4– kempt. [f. KEMB v.] Of hair or wool: Combed. Also with advs., as well-kempt, etc. Cf. UNKEMPT.
c. 1050. Ags. Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 387/23. De stuppe stamineo, be cemdan wearpe.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 426. Ȝif a man haue a kempt hed þanne he is a leccherous man.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. xiv. 19. Hys weyll kemmyt berd.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 228. A distaffe, drest and trimmed with kembed wool.
1863. Mrs. Whitney, Faith Gartney, iv. (1869), 30. Carefully kempt tresses.
1867. J. B. Rose, trans. Virg. Æneid, 307. His kempt beard adown his bosom spread.
