Where does “startling” come from?
Startling comes from Middle English startlen, derived from Old English steartlian, a verb of uncertain origin and meaning.
startling (English): Present participle and gerund of startle; Likely...
Definitions
- Present participle and gerund of startle; Likely...
Ancestry of “startling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | startle | To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling... |
| 2 | Middle English | startlen | — |
| 3 | Old English | steartlian | to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear |
Words derived from “startling”