startle

Meanings

Verb

Noun

  • A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen, from Old English steartlian, equivalent to start + -le. Cognate with Old Norse stirtla, Icelandic stirtla. Compare also Middle English stertil. More at start.

Modern English dictionary

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