kim-kamadj.adv.
/ˈkɪmˌkam/, U.S. /ˈkɪmˌkæm/ Obsolete exc. dialect.
A. adj.
Crooked, awkward, perverse, contrary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [adjective]
contrariousc1290
contraryinga1340
contrary1340
adversarya1382
overthwartc1384
contrairc1400
contrariantc1400
adverse1418
repugnantc1443
thwarting1530
pugnant1537
opposite1577
haggard1578
impugnant1579
kim-kam1582
antagonist1591
adversative1595
counter1596
opposing1597
antipathetical1601
thwart1601
aversed1609
aversive1609
adversarious1622
averse1623
antipathousa1625
inimicitious1641
opponent1641
negative1642
gainstanding1674
antithetic1753
opposed1784
oppositional1829
transversive1855
oppositionary1905
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [adjective] > perverse
wharfedc1175
thwart-over?c1225
fromwardc1275
thwarta1325
wilgernc1325
contrariousa1340
froward1340
rebours1340
awaywarda1375
overthwartc1384
protervec1384
waywardc1384
arsewardc1386
wrawc1386
wrawfulc1386
crabbeda1400
ungraitha1400
wraweda1400
awklyc1400
perversec1425
awkc1440
perversiosec1475
crooked1508
wrayward1516
awkward1530
difficilec1533
peevish1539
protervous1547
overthwarting1552
untowardly1561
difficult1589
cross1594
cama1600
frowish1601
awkwardish1613
haggardly1635
pigheadeda1637
cross-grained1647
wry1649
crossfulc1680
thwarting1718
kim-kama1734
wronghead1737
piggish1742
witherly1790
top-thrawn1808
contrary1850
cussed1858
three-cornered1863
thwarteous1890
bloody-minded1935
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 23 Thee wauering Commons in kym kam sectes ar haled.
a1734 R. North Examen (1740) i. iii. §47 151 Now the Reason of all this Chim-Cham Stuff, is the ridiculous Undertaking, of the Author, to prove Oates' Plot..out of Coleman's Papers.
1879 G. F. Jackson Shropshire Word-bk. (at cited word) Let's a none o' yore kim-kam ways.
B. adv.
Crookedly, awry; in a wayward, perverse, or contrary way.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [adverb]
witherc1200
contrariouslyc1380
overthwartlya1425
adversarilyc1475
incontrary1488
incontrair?a1500
contrairly1535
thwartly1558
adversatively1571
sinisterlya1600
kim-kam1603
antagonistically1610
cross1614
oppositively1622
thwarta1628
counter1643
reverse1649
counter-bias1656
contrariwise1682
contrarily1781
antipathetically1818
opposingly1842
hostilely1876
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [adverb] > with legs crossing each other
kim-kam1603
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 452 Every thing then was turned upside downe, and..all went kim kam.
1658 J. Harrington Prerogative Pop. Govt. i. xii. 113 He presumes [etc.]..kim kam to the experience of all Common-wealths.
1691–2 J. Aubrey Brief Lives (1898) I. 47 [1666] This yeare all my businesses and affaires ran kim-kam.
18.. Whittaker in Lancash. Gloss. Kim-kam, (to walk) with a throw of the legs athwart one another.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.1582