well-keptadj.

Brit.

/ˌwɛlˈkɛpt/, U.S.

/ˌwɛlˈkɛpt/

Forms: see well adv. and n.⁴ and keep v.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: well adv., keep v.

Etymology: < well adv. + the past participle of keep v.

1. Of a secret, a confidence, etc.: not made widely known; closely guarded.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] > specifically of actions or things

circumspect1422

well-kept1486

wary1557

cautionary1605

cautionating1654

guarded1709

gingerly1755

well-guarded1781

1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. fv^v He shall[e] neuer haue goode larder. fayre gardyn. Ner wele kepyd cowncell.

1821 London Lit. Gaz. 1 Dec. 760/2 Another attempt at the solution of this well-kept secret.

1878 J. Lukin Boy Engineers xi. 310 Other grand facts of nature will no doubt yield up their well-kept secrets to the persevering inquiries of the scientific world.

1915 Edinb. Rev. July 101 The well-kept secrets of the older Gods.

1983 Newsday 10 Nov. ii. 19/2 How much Daddy makes and what things cost are a well-kept confidence.

2000 M. Seymour Mary Shelley i. 5 A Vindication of the Rights of Men was published anonymously at the end of the year. The author's identity was not a well-kept secret.

2. Carefully preserved, maintained, or stored; spec. (a) (of property) maintained in good order or condition; (b) (of alcoholic drink) stored so as to remain in good condition.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [adjective] > preserved in being or use > preserved in proper condition

fencible1417

well-kept1613

kept1856

care-and-maintenance1930

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Song of Sol. iv. C Thou art a well kepte garden..thou art a well kepte water sprynge, a sealed well.

1613 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals I. ii. 43 That well kept Register wherein is writ All ils men doe.

1763 Museum Rusticum (1764) 1 143 A well-kept garden.

1792 J. Throsby Supplementary Vol. Leics. Views 236 I have been frequently happy in seeing a well-kept register.

1865 Dublin Univ. Mag. 65 19/1 Ruddy as a well-kept apple.

1879 Jrnl. Philol. 8 218 Some fine and well-kept wine.

1898 C. M. Yonge John Keble's Parishes xiv. 157 Well-kept, picturesque cottages.

1948 Life 6 Sept. 53/1 Madisonians..make their city as attractive as possible with good architecture, well-kept grounds and many trees.

2001 R. Kenna Glasgow Pub Compan. (ed. 2) 106/2 Several well-kept cask-conditioned ales available in the bar.

3. Of a promise, vow, or other undertaking: strictly adhered to; unbroken.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [adjective] > observed

unviolated1555

strict1603

well-observed1616

rigid1653

well-keptc1670

unfringed1751

unswerved1849

c1670 O. Heywood Autobiogr., Diaries, & Event Bks. (1881) II. 348 How much reall comfort a Christian hath in a well-kept fast.

1848 A. Nicholson Treat. Veg. Diet 64 A well kept fast is an admirable provision to set affairs between body and soul on a more amicable footing.

1864 P. Smith Hist. World II. xxv. 418 His well-kept oath of undying hatred to the Romans.

1920 Social Hygiene 6 543 With what well-kept vows a child accepts a secret.

2006 Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) (Nexis) 26 Apr. l3 My fuel tank dropped barely a quarter despite the well-kept promise to myself to use the furnace this winter.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	well-kept
释义	well-keptadj. Brit. /ˌwɛlˈkɛpt/, U.S. /ˌwɛlˈkɛpt/ Forms: see well adv. and n.⁴ and keep v. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: well adv., keep v. Etymology: < well adv. + the past participle of keep v. 1. Of a secret, a confidence, etc.: not made widely known; closely guarded. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > caution > [adjective] > specifically of actions or things circumspect1422 well-kept1486 wary1557 cautionary1605 cautionating1654 guarded1709 gingerly1755 well-guarded1781 1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. fv^v He shall[e] neuer haue goode larder. fayre gardyn. Ner wele kepyd cowncell. 1821 London Lit. Gaz. 1 Dec. 760/2 Another attempt at the solution of this well-kept secret. 1878 J. Lukin Boy Engineers xi. 310 Other grand facts of nature will no doubt yield up their well-kept secrets to the persevering inquiries of the scientific world. 1915 Edinb. Rev. July 101 The well-kept secrets of the older Gods. 1983 Newsday 10 Nov. ii. 19/2 How much Daddy makes and what things cost are a well-kept confidence. 2000 M. Seymour Mary Shelley i. 5 A Vindication of the Rights of Men was published anonymously at the end of the year. The author's identity was not a well-kept secret. 2. Carefully preserved, maintained, or stored; spec. (a) (of property) maintained in good order or condition; (b) (of alcoholic drink) stored so as to remain in good condition. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [adjective] > preserved in being or use > preserved in proper condition fencible1417 well-kept1613 kept1856 care-and-maintenance1930 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Song of Sol. iv. C Thou art a well kepte garden..thou art a well kepte water sprynge, a sealed well. 1613 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals I. ii. 43 That well kept Register wherein is writ All ils men doe. 1763 Museum Rusticum (1764) 1 143 A well-kept garden. 1792 J. Throsby Supplementary Vol. Leics. Views 236 I have been frequently happy in seeing a well-kept register. 1865 Dublin Univ. Mag. 65 19/1 Ruddy as a well-kept apple. 1879 Jrnl. Philol. 8 218 Some fine and well-kept wine. 1898 C. M. Yonge John Keble's Parishes xiv. 157 Well-kept, picturesque cottages. 1948 Life 6 Sept. 53/1 Madisonians..make their city as attractive as possible with good architecture, well-kept grounds and many trees. 2001 R. Kenna Glasgow Pub Compan. (ed. 2) 106/2 Several well-kept cask-conditioned ales available in the bar. 3. Of a promise, vow, or other undertaking: strictly adhered to; unbroken. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > observance > [adjective] > observed unviolated1555 strict1603 well-observed1616 rigid1653 well-keptc1670 unfringed1751 unswerved1849 c1670 O. Heywood Autobiogr., Diaries, & Event Bks. (1881) II. 348 How much reall comfort a Christian hath in a well-kept fast. 1848 A. Nicholson Treat. Veg. Diet 64 A well kept fast is an admirable provision to set affairs between body and soul on a more amicable footing. 1864 P. Smith Hist. World II. xxv. 418 His well-kept oath of undying hatred to the Romans. 1920 Social Hygiene 6 543 With what well-kept vows a child accepts a secret. 2006 Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) (Nexis) 26 Apr. l3 My fuel tank dropped barely a quarter despite the well-kept promise to myself to use the furnace this winter. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.1486
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