Startle /(stär"t'l)/

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?

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.

2. To deter; to cause to deviate. [R.]

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.