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startle

 - 3 dictionary results

star⋅tle

  [stahr-tl] verb, -tled, -tling, noun
Use startle in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.
–verb (used without object)
3. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.
–noun
4. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
5. something that startles.
Origin:
bef. 1100; ME stertlen to rush, caper, equiv. to stert(en) to start + -(e)len -le, or continuing OE steartlian to kick, struggle

Related forms:
star⋅tle⋅ment, noun
startler, noun

Synonyms:
1. scare, frighten, astonish. See shock 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To startle
star·tle   (stär'tl)   
v.   star·tled, star·tling, star·tles

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start.

  2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten.

v.   intr.
To become alarmed, frightened, or surprised.
n.  A sudden mild shock; a start.

[Middle English stertlen, to run about, from Old English steartlian, to kick; see ster-1 in Indo-European roots.]
star'tling·ly adv., star'tling·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

startle 
c.1300, "run to and fro," frequentative of sterten (see start). Sense of "move suddenly in surprise or fear" first recorded 1530. Trans. meaning "frighten suddenly" is from 1595. The word retains more of the original meaning of start (v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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