kept
UK[kɛpt]US[kɛpt]
v
the past tense and past participle of 'keep'
Etymology
'kept' originates from the middle english 'kepte', which was the past tense and past participle of 'kepen' (to keep). this verb, in turn, stems from old english 'cēpan', meaning "to seize, hold, or observe," whose ultimate origin is uncertain but is likely from a proto-germanic root. the irregular formation of 'kept' represents a common pattern in strong and irregular verbs in english, where vowel alteration (ablaut) and consonant change, rather than the simple addition of '-ed', signal the past tense. this specific form became standardized, replacing older variants, to mark the completed action of retaining or maintaining something.
Analysis
the word 'kept' is a suppletive form of the verb 'keep'. it is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern english. its core is the germanic root from which 'keep' derives.
Examples
she kept the old letters in a wooden box.
he has always kept his promises.
the recipe said to add the eggs one at a time, and she kept to the instructions precisely.