Where does “unstartlingly” come from?
unstartlingly (English) comes from English unstartling, from English startling, from English startle, from Middle English startlen, from Old English steartlian — to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear.
unstartlingly (English): So as not to startle; unsurprisingly
Definitions
- So as not to startle; unsurprisingly
Ancestry of “unstartlingly”, step by step
unstartlingly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English unstartling
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | unstartling | Not startling |
| 2 | English | startling | Present participle and gerund of startle; Likely... |
| 3 | English | startle | To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling... |
| 4 | Middle English | startlen | — |
| 5 | Old English | steartlian | to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear |