startle

  1. Noun.  A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.
  2. Verb.  To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.
  3. Verb.  To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.
  4. Verb.  To deter; to cause to deviate.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.