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Added 9 October 2026

startle

/ˈstɑːt(ə)l/ noun

In Latin: consternō, pavefaciō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about startle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A sudden involuntary movement.
he awoke with a start

verb

To stimulate to action.
the loud noise startled him awake
Move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm.
She startled when I walked into the room

Origin

From Middle English startlen, stertlen, stertyllen (“to rush, stumble along”), from Old English steartlian (“to kick with the foot, struggle, stumble”), equivalent to start + -le. Cognate with Old Norse stirtla (“to hobble, stagger”), Icelandic stirtla (“to straighten up, erect”). Compare also Middle English stertil (“hasty”). More at start.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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