Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unstartling” come from?

unstartling (English) comes from English startling, from English startle, from Middle English startlen, from Old English steartlian — to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear.

unstartling (English): Not startling

Definitions

  1. Not startling

Ancestry of “unstartling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstartlingPresent participle and gerund of startle; Likely...
2EnglishstartleTo move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling...
3Middle Englishstartlen—
4Old Englishsteartlianto kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear
Every word from Old English steartlian →