From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Neat \Neat\, a. [Compar. {Neater}; superl. {Neatest}.] [OE.
nett, F. nett, fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf.
{Nitid}, {Net}, a., {Natty}.]
1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean;
cleanly; tidy.
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If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor
body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean.
--Law.
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2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry;
simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful;
chaste; as, a neat style; a neat dress.
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3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as,
neat brandy; to drink one's vodka neat. Hence: (Chem.)
Pure; undiluted; as, dissolved in neat acetone. "Our old
wine neat." --Chapman.
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4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice;
finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.
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5. With all deductions or allowances made; net.
Note: [In this sense usually written {net}. See {Net}, a.,
3.]
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{neat line} (Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be
built or formed.
{Neat work}, work built or formed to neat lines.
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Syn: Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.
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