'well-kept' originates from the combination of 'well' and 'kept', where 'well' meant 'in a good or satisfactory way' and 'kept' is the past participle of 'keep', meaning 'to maintain'.

'well-kept' evolved from the Old English word 'cepian', which meant 'to seize or hold', and eventually became the modern English word 'keep'.

Initially, 'kept' meant 'to hold or seize', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'maintained in good condition'.