a. Obs. [ad. L. compt-us, pa. pple. of cōm-ĕre to bring together, comb (the hair), adorn.] Dressed, as to the hair; more gen., trim, spruce, polished.
c. 1400. [see COMPERT a.].
1600. Abp. Abbot, Exp. Jonah, 592. Who is not much more careful of the grace of his head then of his health, who maketh not more account to be compt then to be honest?
1632. Vicars, Æneid, VII. p. 214.
| And with him came Lausus his sonne likewise, | |
| A compt, accomplisht prince, without compare, | |
| Onely excell’d by Laurents Turnus faire. |
a. 1693. Urquhart, Rabelais, III. xiv. 118. My Wife will be jocund, feat, compt.
b. Of discourse or style: Elegant. [So in L.]
1617. J. Fosbroke, Eng. Warning (1633), 2. A compt stile and filed phrase of speech.
1652. Pref. Verses Benlowes’ Theoph. Our ravisht souls to recreate with delight … compt discourse.
1670. Baxter, Cure Ch. Div., 53. The expressions ready, orderly or compt.
c. transf. of things.
1675. Evelyn, Terra (1729), 39. Leaving the Surface rough, rather than too compt and exquisitely trimm’d, if only you dig your Ground.
Hence † Comptly adv., in a compt manner; † Comptness, compt quality or state, trimness.
1611. Cotgr., Cointement, quaintly, comptly, finely, sprucely. Ibid., Cointise, quaintnes, comptnes, neatnes, trimnes.
1634. Pref. Verses to W. Wood’s New Eng. Prosp. Much Knowledge in so small roome comptly plac’t.
1640. G. Watts, trans. Bacon’s Adv. Learn., 27. Many affected … Comptnesse of stile.
