— startlement , n. — startler , n.
/stahr"tl/ , v. , startled, startling , n.
v.t.
1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock.
v.i.
3. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm.
n.
4. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
5. something that startles.
[ bef. 1100; ME stertlen to rush, caper, equiv. to stert ( en ) to START + -( e ) len -LE, or continuing OE steartlian to kick, struggle ]
Syn. 1. scare, frighten, astonish. See shock 1 .