1. (v. t.) To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling alarm; to start.

2. (v. t.) To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise.

3. (v. t.) To deter; to cause to deviate.

4. (n.) A sudden motion or shock caused by an unexpected alarm, surprise, or apprehension of danger.

affright alarm alert amaze arouse astonish astound awe awestrike be startled bedaze bedazzle bewilder boggle bolt bowl down bowl over confound cry havoc cry wolf curdle the blood daze dazzle discombobulate discompose dismay disquiet disturb dumbfound dumbfounder electrify fight shy flabbergast flinch fly storm warnings fright frighten funk horripilate jar jib jolt jump jump a mile make one tremble overwhelm panic paralyze perplex perturb petrify raise apprehensions scare shake shake up shock shy skedaddle sound the alarm sound the tocsin spook spring stagger stampede start start aside strike dead strike dumb strike with wonder stun stupefy surprise take aback terrify terrorize unman unnerve unsettle unstring upset warn