Startle
1Startle — Star tle (st[aum]r t l), v. t. 1. To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise. [1913 Webster] The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not… …
2Startle — Star tle, n. A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger. [1913 Webster] After having recovered from my first startle, I was very well pleased with the accident. Spectator. [1913 Webster] …
3Startle — Star tle (st[aum]r t l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Startled} (st[aum]r t ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Startling} (st[aum]r tl[i^]ng).] [Freq. of start.] To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start. [1913 Webster] Why shrinks the soul Back on… …
4startle — index disconcert, disturb, frighten, menace, upset Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …
5startle — c.1300, run to and fro, frequentative of sterten (see START (Cf. start)). Sense of move suddenly in surprise or fear first recorded 1520s. Trans. meaning frighten suddenly is from 1590s. The word retains more of the original meaning of START (Cf …
6startle — *scare, alarm, terrify, terrorize, *frighten, fright, affray, affright Analogous words: *surprise, astonish, astound: rouse, arouse, *stir: electrify, *thrill state n State, condition, mode, situation, posture, status can all mean the way in… …
7startle — [v] frighten, surprise affright, agitate, alarm, amaze, astonish, astound, awe, bolt, consternate, floor, fright, give a turn*, jump, make jump, rock, scare, scare to death*, shake up, shock, spook, spring, spring something on*, stagger, start,… …
8startle — ► VERB ▪ cause to feel sudden shock or alarm. DERIVATIVES startled adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «kick, struggle»; related to START(Cf. ↑start) …
9startle — [stärt′ l] vt. startled, startling [ME stertlen, to rush, stumble along, freq. of sterten: see START] to surprise, frighten, or alarm suddenly or unexpectedly; esp., to cause to start, or move involuntarily, as from sudden fright vi. to be… …
10startle — UK [ˈstɑː(r)t(ə)l] / US [ˈstɑrt(ə)l] verb [transitive] Word forms startle : present tense I/you/we/they startle he/she/it startles present participle startling past tense startled past participle startled to make a person or animal feel suddenly… …
