Startle — Defs

01 v. i. To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.

imp. & p. p. Startled; p. pr. & vb. n. Startling

1.
To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
“Why shrinks the soul Back on herself, and startles at destruction?” — Addison.

02 v. t. To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.

1.
To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
“The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not startle us.” — Locke.
2.
To deter; to cause to deviate.[R.]

Syn. To start; shock; fright; frighten; alarm.

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

1.
A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.
“After having recovered from my first startle, I was very well pleased with the accident.” — Spectator.