v. Obs. Forms: 3 atstirt-en, atstert-en, etstert-en. Pa. t. æt-, atsturt(e, atsterte. [f. AT- pref.2 + stert-en: see START v. and ASTART v. Cf. G. entstürzen.]
1. intr. To start away, escape.
c. 1205. Lay., 4264. He æt-sturte in to are burje.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 332. Þet wrecche best selden etsterteð.
2. trans. (i.e., with dative obj.) To escape from.
c. 1220. Leg. St. Kath., 699. Tu schalt sone atstirten [v.r. etsterten] al þe strengðe of þis strif.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 370. We þolien þe soule vuel uorte etsterten vlesches vuel.