[f. STARTLE v. + -ING2.]
† 1. Capering, prancing. Obs.
The phrase startling steed was apparently interpreted by Dryden in sense 3.
[c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1204. Vp on a courser stertelynge as the fyr … Sit Enyas.]
c. 1450. Merlin, xvi. 257. With vij hundred Knyghtes vpon startelinge stedes.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. iv. 56. The child, amyde the planis, Joyus and blyth his stertling steid to assay.
1566. Gascoigne, Jocasta, V. ii. 104. Downe our duke dismountes From of his startling steede.
[1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., III. 701. The startling Steed was seiz’d with sudden Fright.]
† 2. Fickle, irresolute. Cf. STARTLE v. 4. Obs.
1645. Milton, Tetrach., 25. Unless wee imagine Moses weaker then every negligent and startling Politician.
3. Starting with terror; easily terrified or shocked; timorous. Of sleep: Disturbed. Now rare or Obs.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 2. That we resembled melancholique hares Or startling stagges, whom euerie shadow scares.
a. 1718. Prior, Poems, Power, 824. In broken Rest, and startling Sleep to mourn.
1792. S. Rogers, Pleas. Mem., I. 44. Oft, fancy-led, at midnight’s fearful hour, With startling step we scaled the lonely tower.
1810. T. L. Peacock, Genius of Thames, p. vi. When in the startling grove The battle-blast was blown.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, IX. 175. ’Tis but … The transient gulf-dream of a startling sleep.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 121. The startling peewits … Scream joyous whirring over-head.
† 4. Of eyes: ‘Starting from their sockets,’ protruding. Obs.
1648. Gage, West Ind., 173. His look was grim with a wrinkled forehead, and broad startling eyes.
5. That causes a shock of surprise; that suddenly and forcibly compels attention.
1714. T. Lucas, Mem. Gamesters (ed. 2), 275. He receiv’d the startling News, that his Lady was gone to London with the Lord M——n.
1826. Lamb, Pop. Fallacies, ix. If by worst be only meant the most far-fetched and startling, we agree to it.
1866. J. Martineau, Ess., I. 30. The statement is as false as it is startling.
1884. Punch, 27 Dec., 305/2.
| Trustful Briton! Cave! Cave!! | |
| Read the startlingest of tracts? | |
| Get The Truth about the Navy— | |
| Writ by ‘One who Knows the Facts!’ |
1909. P. H. Brown, Hist. Scot., I. IV. vii. 303. Some of their [Lollards’] tenets were certainly startling.
Hence Startlingly adv., Startlingness.
1840. L. Blanchard, in New Monthly Mag., LIX. 413. So strangely, so startlingly like.
1859. Meredith, R. Feverel, xxxviii. She could make you forget she was a woman, and then bring the fact startlingly home to you.
1871. Mozley, Univ. Serm., v. (1876), 97. We have suddenly become alive to the strangeness and startlingness of the fact.
1886. G. H. Boughton, in Harper’s Mag., Dec., 26/1. I rapped at the door somewhat startlingly, as we now and then fancy for a moment that a blind person is deaf as well.
