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startled

 - 2 dictionary results

star⋅tle

  [stahr-tl] verb, -tled, -tling, noun
Use startled 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 startled
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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