ķemmēt

From ķemmē (“comb”), a borrowing from Low German, made into a second conjugation verb stem (ending -ēt). Alternatively, it may be a direct borrowing from Middle Low German (cf. German kämmen (“to comb”)). First mentioned in 17th-century sources.^[1]

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ķemmēt (transitive, 2nd conjugation, present ķemmēju, ķemmē, ķemmē, past ķemmēju)

1. (of people's hair) to comb (to smooth with a comb)

   ķemmēt matus ― to comb (one's) hair

   ķemmēt pie spoguļa matus ― to comb one's hair by the mirror

   kandidāts bija nedaudz pāri labākajiem gadiem, vairākas dienas neķemmētiem pelēkiem matiem ― the nominee was a little over his better years, with hair many days uncombed

2. (of animal hair, fur) to comb (to smooth, also to clean, with a comb)

   ķemmēt suni ― to comb the dog

   ķemmēt zirgam krēpes ― to comb the mane of the horse

3. (colloquial, especially military) to comb (to search thoroughly)

   fašisti gatavojās ķemmēt mežu ― the fascists are preparing to comb the forest

   ciemā jau iet žandarmu ķēde, ķemmēdama māju pēc mājas; meklē vīriešus ― in the village a chain (= group) of gendarmes is going (around), combing house after house; they are looking for (certain) men

• sukāt

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

• ķemmēties

• ķemme