unkept

English

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *né

Proto-Indo-European *n̥-

Proto-Germanic *un-

Proto-West Germanic *un-

Old English un-

Middle English un-

English un-

English kept

English unkept

From un- + kept.

Adjective

unkept (not comparable)

1. Not kept (especially of promises).
2. Not well-cared for, not well-kept, not tidy or well-maintained

Etymology 2

Reanalysis of obsolete kempt to kept, keep in the sense “maintain (a coiffure)”. Compare uncombed.

Adjective

unkept

1. Misspelling of unkempt.