Pa. t. and pa. pple. started. Forms: (? 1 north. pr. pple. sturtende), 3–6 sterte, 3 -storte, (3 3rd sing. pres. start, stard), 4–6 styrt, 4–7 stirt(e, (5 3rd sing. pres. stirt), 4–7 sturt(e, stert, starte, 6 Sc. stairt, 4– start. Pa. t. 3–5 sturte, stirt(e, 3 storte, 3–6 sterte, 4–5 sturt, 4–6 stert, 4–7 start(e, styrte, 6 stertt, styrtt, steart; 5 stirted, 6 sterted, 6– started. Pa. pple. 4 stirt, styrt, 4–6 stert(e, 5 stirte, 6–7 start; 6– started. [App. two formations representing different ablaut-grades of the Teut. root *stert- (: start-: sturt-). The OE. styrtan (only once, in pres. ppl. styrtende, miswritten stvrtende) corresponds formally to (M)LG. störten, (M)Du. storten, WFris. stoarte, NFris. stört, OHG. sturzen (MHG., mod.G. stürȥen), MSw. styrta, störta, (mod.Sw. störta, Da. styrte):—OTeut. *sturtjan. The verb in continental Teut. has the senses: To overthrow, precipitate, overturn; to empty by overturning, to pour out; also intr. to rush, to fall headlong, to gush out. (The mod. Fris. forms are certainly from Du. and LG.; the word may possibly be native in Scandinavian, but the senses in Sw. and Da. are largely adopted from Ger.)
The ME. sterte (whence mod. Eng. start) is, so far as it is a southern form, explicable as the Kentish representative of OE. styrtan, whence in other ME. dialects sturte, stirte, etc. But the occurrence of sterte in early northern English, and of its normal phonetic descendants in mod. Sc. and northern dialects, points to the existence of a form (? OE. *steortian, ? *stiertan) corresponding to MHG. sterzen (also starzen) trans. and intr. to set up (or stand) stiffly, to move briskly.
Other derivatives of the root are START sb.1 (f. *stert-), OE. steartlian (f. *start-) to stumble: see STARTLE v. No cognates outside Teut. are known.]
I. Intransitive uses.
† 1. To leap, jump, caper; also, to leap or spring upon a horse, into water, etc. Obs.
a. 1000. Rit. Dunelm., 57/27. Exiliens claudus stetit stvrtende se halta ʓistod.
c. 1240. Cuckoo Song, Bulluc sterteþ.
c. 1250. Owl & Night., 379. He [sc. the hare] huphþ & start [Cott. stard] swiþe cove & secheþ paþes to þe groue.
a. 1366. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 344. Him luste not to play ne sterte Ne for to dauncen, ne to synge.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 471. In gret hy thair hors hint thai, And stert apon thame sturdely.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 697. And with that word nakyd with ful good herte Among the serpentis in the pit sche styrte.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 35. Þanne þe camel … gan to lepe and [to] sterte.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxx. 110 (Harl. MS.). Abowte the sydes of þe diche wer iiij frogges sterting.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 476/1. Styrtyn, or skyppyn, salto.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVI. xv. 684. Therfore starte vpon thy hors.
1480. Robt. Devyll, 813, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 250. So daunced and leapt [he,] and aboute so starte.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 994. He, to qwham the presone hath ben smart, With glaid desir apone his cursour start.
1567. Gude & Godlie B., 109. Quhat gart ȝow montanis lyke rammis stert & stend?
2. To move with a bound or sudden violent impulse from a position of rest; to come suddenly from, out of a place of concealment. Also with out.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., 86/91. He sturte out of þis deope Roche.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12527. A nedder stert vte of þe sand.
a. 1300. Floris & Bl., 457 (Camb. MS.). Into þe cupe he sterte aȝen, And wiþ þe flures he hudde him.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, viii. (Philip), 17. A fel dragone, lyk to be wod, come startand owt al sudanly.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1826. Out of the ground a furie Infernal sterte. Ibid. (c. 1386), Merch. T., 909. This Damyan thanne hath opened the wyket And In he stirte.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 131. He sterte unto me, and seide, ‘Slepest thou, man’?
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 476/1. Styrtyn, or sodenly mevyn, impeto.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, I. xx. 66. There with he sterte vnto the kynges hors and mounted in to the sadel.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 83/1. Thenne Vago … wente into the tabernacle of Judith and fonde her not and sterte out to the peple.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 338. With those wordes he had thought to haue lept agayne to his horse, but he fayled of the Styrop, and the horse sterted awaye.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 12. Dizzie-ey’d Furie … Suddenly made him from my side to start Into the clustring Battaile of the French.
1623. J. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 119. The King awakened with this noise, start out of his bed, and cryed ‘Treason, Treason.’
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 449. Out of the wood he starts in wonted shape.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 496. Starting at once from their green Seats, they rise; Fear in their Heart, Amazement in their Eyes.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 11 May 1652. At a place call’d the Procession Oake, two cut-throates started out.
1815. Scott, Guy M., x. She had seen Meg Merrilies … start suddenly out of a thicket.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 22. If a horse that was standing still suddenly starts forward.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. iii. For one moment … he starts aloft … to sink then for evermore!
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1331. Who saw the chargers … Start from their fallen lords, and wildly fly.
b. To spring on, upon one’s feet.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 10977. And ho stithly in the stoure start vppon fote.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 566. Than Pheb[e] styrt vppon her fete And seyd [etc.].
a. 1605. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xxxiii. 21. Vpon my feet incontinent I start.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, I. 59. He started on his feet.
† c. To make a sudden attack (upon). Obs.
c. 1440. Ps. Penit. (1894), 16. Lat never the fend … Sterte upon me with no stelthe.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 476/1. Styrtyn, or brunton, or sodenly comyn a-ȝen a enmy,… insilio, irruo.
d. To awake suddenly from, out of, † out (sleep, reverie)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 1004. She ferde, as she had stert out of a sleepe.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, 68. And for the fere that the Ermite hadde, he sterte and waked oute of his auisyon.
c. 1566. Merie Tales of Skelton, in S.’s Wks. (1843), I. p. lxix. The preest, hearyng the bell tolle, starte oute of his slepe.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, X. 176. He starteth out his sleepe, and vp to them he thus began.
1591. Greene, Maiden’s Dream, in Shaks. Soc. Papers (1845), II. 145. The people shouted such a screame, That I awooke, and start out of my dreame.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XXIV. 612. This said, the king (affraid) Start from his sleepe.
1737. [S. Berington], G. di Lucca’s Mem. (1738), 51. I started out of my Reveries as if I had awak’d from a real Dream.
1770. M. Bruce, in J. Mackenzie, Life & Wks. (1914), 173.
| Strait all the chatt’ring tribe obey; | |
| Start from their trance and wing away. |
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. iv. Let Paris court a little fever-sleep;… or from time to time start awake, and look out, palpitating, in its nightcap.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, vii. ‘Yes,’ he exclaimed, starting from his thoughts, ‘I have heard, but … not taken in the sense of what you have been saying.’
1906. E. A. Abbott, Silanus, iv. 41. The cock was still crowing when I started out of my dream.
e. To move suddenly from one’s place, as to avoid a danger; hence fig. to flinch or recoil from something in alarm or repugnance. Chiefly with adv., back († on back, aback), aside.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8901. Þe tre sco stert al gloppend fra.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 226. And anon þe fend was aferd, and starte on bakke.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xiv. 328. He toke a staff, & caste it after Estorfawde but Estorfawd sterte from his place.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 234. Scho suld not stert for his straik a stray breid of erd.
1530. Palsgr., 733/2. I starte asyde, as one dothe that shrinketh with his bodye when he seeth a daunger towardes.
a. 1550[?]. Freiris Berwik, 568, in Dunbar’s Poems, 304. With that Freir Robert stert abak and saw [etc.].
1657. Billingsly, Brachy-Martyrol., II. vii. 177. By God’s grace, I will nothing start aside.
1679. Dryden, Œdipus, I. i. 5. Nature her self start back when thou wert born.
1698. W. Chilcot, Evil Thoughts, iv. 96. Like a Man that accidentally treads upon an Adder, starts back immediately, and strives to make no more approaches to it.
1701. Norris, Ideal World, I. ii. 17. Even the men that talk at this rate shall presently start from it as from a bugbear or apparition.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., xiv. The horse, too, upon which the lady rode, started back.
1861. Mrs. H. Wood, Shadow of Ashlydyat, I. ii. There ensued a proposal to knight him. He started from it with aversion.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, I. xiii. 113. [He] started back, appalled at the energy of the words used to him.
f. In various figurative uses: To come suddenly into a condition; to go out of (one’s wits); to burst into (anger); to emerge suddenly into (life, activity, etc.).
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 660. And for dispeyr out of his wit he sterte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5871. He, stithely astonyt, stert into yre.
a. 1600. Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xii. A. 1948. Starting in a rage.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 199. When all creation started into birth. Ibid., 550. His horse … Snorting, and starting into sudden rage.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xlvii. I have sometimes known her argue … with acuteness, and then in a moment start off into madness.
1802. Noble Wanderers, I. 51. When kindred minds meet … they instantly start into amity, and become incorporated in affection.
1816. Byron, Ch. Har., III. lxxxvii. At intervals, some bird from out the brakes Starts into voice a moment, then is still.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., ix. 217. The characters start into light, life, and identity.
3. Of an inanimate thing: To issue suddenly and violently; to fly, flow, or be projected by a sudden impulse. Of tears: To burst out suddenly; to rise suddenly to the eyes.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 1301. Therwith hise false terys out they sterte. Ibid., 851. The blod out of the wounde as brode sterte As watyr whan the condit brokyn is.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), III. viii. 55. They maden them for to hurtlen ageyn a pyler, so that … hit semed as theyr brayne sturt oute.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 77. In ȝettyng in þe liquore with þe clistery þe liquor alsone stirt out vpon þe handez or þe leche.
1508. Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 339. Than with a stew stert out the stoppell of my hals.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, VII. clxxix. She Seemd in that breast he suck’d alone to live: For thither leap’d her soul, and scarce could stop It self from sturting out with every drop.
1678. R. L’Estrange, Seneca’s Mor., II. ix. (1696), 198. The Clawing of an Itch till the Blood starts.
1739. Labelye, Short Acc. Piers Westm. Bridge, 46. Some Springs unluckily starting in their Foundation, which they … could neither stop nor master.
1757. W. Wilkie, Epigoniad, V. 154. A flood of sorrow started to his eyes.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. vi. ’Tis said, at times the sullen tear would start, But Pride congeal’d the drop within his ee.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, I. iii. Over one edge thereof poured a small but beautiful cascade, starting from mass to mass of volcanic rock.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, ii. 35. This chip of wax … had started into my eye when breaking the seal of a letter.
b. Of the eyes: To burst out, escape from their sockets. Chiefly in hyperbolical use, expressing the effect of horror or fury.
1526. R. Whytford, Martiloge, 76. Of some theyr tongues rotted, & of some the eyes stert out of theyr hedes.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. v. 17. I could a Tale vnfold, whose lightest word Would … Make thy two eyes like Starres, start from their Spheres. Ibid. (1605), Macb., IV. i. 116. Why do you shew me this?—A fourth? Start eyes!
1828. Ann. Reg., 375/1. The eyes [of the murdered woman] were not started, nor did the tongue hang out.
1863. Mrs. H. Wood, Verner’s Pride, II. xv. 192. His eyes were starting, the drops of perspiration poured off him, and his hair rose up on end.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, V. vii. 304. Philip’s bloodshot eyes seemed to be starting from his head.
c. Start out: to project; to become visible or conspicuous, burst into view.
1825. R. Chambers, Trad. Edinb., I. 236. The pin … was formed of a small rod of iron, twisted or notched, which was placed perpendicularly, starting out a little from the door, and bore a small ring of the same metal.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, I. ii. The road … now showed, now concealed, the abrupt mountain-peaks starting out from their thick vesture of wood.
1863. J. Hughes, Pract. Photogr. (1866), 21. If it [the image] start out at once, directly the developer has flowed over the plate, the exposure has been too long.
d. Of a plant: To spring up suddenly. rare.
1720. Ramsay, Prosp. Plenty, 225. A’ the beauties o’ the year Which start wi’ ease frae the obedient soil.
1820. Shelley, Sensit. Pl., III. 62. And agarics and fungi … Started like mist from the wet ground old.
e. In figurative uses: cf. 2 f.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 425. Dremys … been but as glasyng glemys Þat yn þe þouȝt stertys & lepys.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cresseid, 538. Quhen Cresseid vnderstude that it was he, Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound.
1683. Dryden, Dk. Guise, I. i. 5. My Blood stands still. My Spirits start an end for Guise’s Fate.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 389. Fear, pity, justice, indignation start.
1817. Keats, I stood tip-toe, 26. I was light-hearted, And many pleasures to my vision started.
1833. J. H. Newman, Arians, V. ii. (1876), 374. Theological subtleties were for ever starting into existence among the Greek Christians.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 447. When they are wanted to start into fruit, expected to be matured by June 1, we begin by [etc.].
† f. Of a commodity: To rise suddenly in price.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Essex (1662), 318. No commodity starteth so soon and sinketh so suddainly in the price.
1767. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Mass. (1795), II. ii. 174. The extravagant price to which provisions had started.
† 4. To go or come swiftly or hastily; to rush, hasten. In ME. verse occas. = to go. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8629. Vntil hir fere sco stert [Gött. stirt] in hij.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3600. He dede þen his stef stede stert a god spede.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1094. This Pandarus tok þe lettre and þat by tyme A morwe and to his Neces paleys sterte.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XX. 297. Þre þynges þer beoþ þat doþ a man to sterte Out of his owene hous.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xlix. 39. Ofte to churche loke þow sterte.
a. 1400[?]. Festivals of Ch., 124, in Leg. Rood, App. 214. To poure in prisoun þou schalt sterte.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxiv. And whan she hath be wele ychased … so þat … she be abyte with houndes … who so is nexte shulde sterte to geete her hoole fro hem.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., 8. He stirte to þe bord, and tooke a faire gilt cowpe.
c. 1475. Babees Bk., 61. Stert nat Rudely; komme Inne an esy pace.
15[?]. Adam Bel, 321, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 152. Wyllyam sterte to an offycer of ye towne, Hys axe out of hys hande he wronge.
1575. Gammer Gurton, IV. ii. 26. When ich saw this, ich was wrothe, see now, And start betwene them twaine, see now.
1637. Rutherford, Lett. (1664), 198. O how joyfull would my soul be to hear you start to the gate, and contend for the crown.
† b. with advs., as away, forth, in, to. In ME. sometimes with dative of reflexive pronoun. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 4311. Þe romeyns sturte [v.r. stertte] to anon hor prince vor to arere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15782. Þai stert þam forth ilkan.
c. 1300. Havelok, 873. Hauelok … stirte forth to þe kok.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 2977. As ganhardin stert oway, His heued he brac þo, As he fleiȝe.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Kings ii. 46. The kyng comaundide to Banaye,… the which stert to [Vulg. egressus], smoot hym, and he is deed.
a. 1400. St. Alexius, 410 (Vernon MS.). Eufemian sturte him forþ as tit.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxx. (Arb.), 75. The man sterte awaye and was a ferde.
1518. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 140. And then styrtt forth John powur Water Baker [etc.] … the whyche seyd to me [etc.].
c. 1529. Skelton, E. Rummyng, 412. Than sterte in mad Kyt, That had lyttle wyt.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Fugitiuarius, startyng away, flyttyng.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 216. You start away, And lend no eare vnto my purposes.
† c. To start abroad, astray: to desert one’s place. Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1716. He blenched aȝayn bilyue, & stifly start onstray.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 6258. If any stert vpon stray, strike hym to dethe.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 19. Mony sterne our the streit stertis on stray.
1488. Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyldern, 18. Somtyme sharply he smyteth to kepe in his chyldern that they shold not sterte abrode fro the scole.
† d. To start to (a weapon): to seize it hastily.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 127. Þanne [buskede] a bold kniht & to a bow stirte.
c. 1400. Melayne, 331. And Rowland styrte þan to a brande And hastily hent it owte of a sarazene hande.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iii. 163. For the Quhilk cause vnto ane brand sho start, And slew hir self.
† e. Of immaterial things: To depart, pass away. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 237. The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., I. iv. (1867), 9. Who hopeth in Gods helpe, his helpe can not starte.
1558. Bullein, Gov. Health, A v b. Apoploxia and Vertigo, will neuer fro the starte, Vntill the vital blode, be killed in the harte.
c. 1560. Pullain, Ps. cxlix. in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 495. The Lord’s pleasure is in them that are his, Not willing to start; But all meanes do seke to succour the meke.
1577. Kendall, Flowers of Epigr., 29 b. Leude is the loue that doeth not last, but startyng, taketh ende.
5. To undergo a sudden involuntary movement of the body, resulting from surprise, fright, sudden pain, etc. Hence occas. to feel startled.
a. 1529. Skelton, Bouge of Court, 502. Thenne I, astonyed of that sodeyne fraye, Sterte all at ones.
1530. Palsgr., 735/1. I sterte, I styrre, as one dothe for feare.
1590. Tarlton’s News Purgatory, To Rdrs. So fareth it with mee, for neuer before beeing in print I start at the sight of the Presse.
a. 1592. T. Watson, Poems (Arb.), 201. Which hauing seene as one agast shee start.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 90. If he be chaste, the flame will … turne him to no paine: but if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted hart. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. ii. 113. Some strange Commotion Is in his braine: He bites his lip, and starts.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., II. 456. He starts at every Noise.
1735. Johnson, Lobo’s Abyssinia, Voy. ii. 13. I started, and ask’d what he wanted? he told me to Bleed me.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 20. Hold up your Head, Girl; (Miss starts).
1742. Blair, Grave, 693. Then why, like ill-condition’d Children, Start we at transient Hardships?
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xix. You are no fool to start at shadows. Ibid. (1829), Anne of G., xxix. It is by giving fair names to foul actions, that those who would start at real vice are led to practise its lessons.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., xiv. 162. Will Belton started so violently, and assumed on a sudden so manifest a look of anger, [etc.].
1906. Charlotte Mansfield, Girl & Gods, xi. Margaret started guiltily as though detected in an indecency.
1908. R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, vii. 68. Jim started. ‘How did you know my name?’ he asked.
b. said of a horse. Also, to start aside, to swerve suddenly from its course.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. iv. 87. Three times to-day my Foot-Cloth-Horse did stumble, And started, when he look’d vpon the Tower.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 136. In the heat of the fight they [sc. the horses] should start aside, affrighted.
1690. R. Meeke, Diary, 17 Nov. (1874), 31. As I rode home my horse starting at a stoop in the way, gave me a fall.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. iii. The horses … were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting.
1847. Lever, Knt. Gwynne, xviii. He [a horse] starts, or shies, or something of that sort—don’t he?
1870. Bryant, Iliad, V. 360. His fiery steeds Started aside with fright.
† 6. To escape. Cf. ASTART v. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 7168. Vte o pair handes son he stert.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1592 (Camb. MS.). Þow þat I no wepene haue in þis place But out of prisoun am styrt [v.rr. astert(e, I-stert] by grace.
c. 1403. Lydg., Temple of Glas, 584. Fro þe deþ, I trow, I mai not stert.
c. 1430. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 209. On doomysday þou schalt not starte.
a. 1542. Wyatt, Poems, Go burning Sighs, 7. Take with the payn … And eke the flame from which I cannot stert.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Water-Cormorant, E 2. And thence [sc. from the jail] he gets not, there he shall not start, Till the last drop of blood’s wrong from his heart.
† 7. To desert or revolt from (a leader, a party; to swerve from (a course, purpose, principle); to withdraw from (a promise, a treaty). Also with aside, back. Obs.
1542. Ld. Lisle, Lett., in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 5, note. He durst not move the matter as yet to none of them; for if he shuld, he is sure they wolde starte from them.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 199 b. He commaundeth us … not to starte fro them [the scriptures] one ynche.
1570. J. Phillip, Frendly Larum, in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 531. That from thy truth and testament No daunger cause us start.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 114. Neither wil I yeald so farre to the inuasions of feare, as to revolt and start back from my professed humanitie.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, IV. 67. That we abate the Troyan glorious pride, By which, and by their arrogance from stricken pact they start.
1597. Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 501. Francis Pizarre … interrupted all their agreements by starting from his promises, and rekindled the halfe quenched fire of warre by his owne ambition.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, II. xxv. 76. But here Baronius, who hitherto had leaned on Tyrius his authority, now starteth from it.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., title-p., Go on (great State) and make it known Thou never wilt forsake thine own, nor from thy purpose start.
1663. Patrick, Pilgr., xviii. (1687), 175. The greedy humour of the world, who catch at all that presents it self, though they start out of their way to get it.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 452. No — nature unsophisticate by man, Starts not aside from her Creator’s plan.
8. Of a material thing: To break away from its place; to be displaced by pressure or shrinkage; to get loose. Chiefly in technical uses.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 274 b. The hopes kepeth fast the bordes of the vessell, yt they disseuer not, & holdeth in ye endes that they start not.
1570. Levins, Manip., 33/35. To starte, dissilire.
1631. B. Jonson, New Inn, II. vi. The best bow may start, And th’ hand may vary.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxiv. ¶ 8. Drawing and straining the Skin tighter, he drives in … Nails … to keep the Skin from starting as it Dries.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. ii. 317. A but-end or a plank might start, and we might go down immediately.
1758. Borlase, Nat. Hist. Cornw., 64. This ruddle … made a very good red, and … would not start, nor alter its colour.
a. 1779. Cook, 3rd Voy., III. xi. (1784), II. 219. About seven o’clock … the anchor of the Resolution started, and she drove off the bank.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 318. The mortar in the joints had started.
1818. Art Bookbinding, 12. The book must not be put to the fire to dry, as that would cause the foldings to start.
1869. Sir E. J. Reed, Shipbuilding, i. 11. Just as the ship floated several rivets started again.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 131. Start, leaves of books are said to ‘start’ when the sewing is defective, and the leaves are loose.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, III. xi. 168. I’ve summered and wintered the man, haven’t I? He’s timber that doesn’t start, mother, blow high, blow low.
1912. Westm. Gaz., 17 April, 10/1. The force of the shock was so tremendous that the ‘Titanic’ started in every joint.
9. Of a beast of the chase: To leave its lair; to be ‘started.’ (Cf. sense 17.)
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxiii. To se if þe deer þat is herbowrede wolde sterte and steele away or þe lymer meved hym.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, lix. 164. As soone as euer she [the hare] hearde the horne, she starte.
1714. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 172. Mopey seated us a hare wh beet us ffor 3 howrs, but a fresh on started and savd her life.
10. ‘To set out from the barrier at a race’ (J.). Also in figurative context.
To start fair: to start on equal terms in a race, etc.
1645. Waller, Poems, To a Friend, 3. Faire course of Passion, where two Lovers start And run together, heart still yoakt in heart!
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 165. When from the Goal they start, The Youthful Charioteers with beating Heart, Rush to the Race.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., III. i. 24. Nay, Madam, let’s start Fair.
1727. Boyer, Eng.-Fr. Dict., To start (or begin to run) Partir.
1730. Cheny, List Horse-Matches, 5. The following four Year olds started for a Prize of 800 Guineas.
1870. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 Sept. 9/1. Hendre Claiming Stakes…. Four started…. County Members’ Plate…. Three started.
fig. 1780. Mirror, No. 82. The King of Prussia [as the sign of an inn] began to give place a little to two popular favourites, who started at the same time, I mean Prince Ferdinand, and the Marquis of Granby.
11. To set out, to begin a journey; to begin to move, to leave the point of departure in any kind of progression. Said of a person or animal; also of a vehicle, ship, etc. Also with off, rarely away.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxiv. ‘To-morrow, madam,’ he said to his charge, ‘we will, with your leave, again start early.’ Ibid. (1827), Surg. Dau., i. The good-daughter of Peg Thomson started off with an activity worthy of her mother-in-law.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. I. iv. These, with torches … start from Versailles on the second evening, with their leaden bier.
1843. Dickens, Chr. Carol, ii. 60. New top couple starting off again, as soon as they got there.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 413. In February 1693, near four hundred ships were ready to start.
1858. T. McCombie, Hist. Victoria, xv. 234. Here immigrants who had not means to start for the diggings … congregated to expose their property for sale.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. iii. 23. Next morning I started with this man up the valley.
1885. Law Rep., Weekly Notes, 146/1. The ship loaded the coals … and … started on her voyage to Bombay.
1896. Baden-Powell, Matabele Campaign, x. Ridley’s column started to-day for the Shangani.
1898. Flor. Montgomery, Tony, 13. Mother! do just get in with me for a few minutes till the train starts.
1901. Alldridge, Sherbro, xxiii. 242. A pilot was provided for me … and the next morning at 6.30 I started away.
b. To begin one’s journey in or from a certain place.
1879. R. K. Douglas, Confucianism, iii. 90. A mountaineer … in order to reach the top of the peak, has to start from the foot.
1912. J. L. Myres, Dawn of Hist., ix. 191. The grassland heart of Asia Minor … is in fact as open as Hungary or Persia to intruders who started in Turkestan or beyond.
12. To begin a career, course of action, process, etc. Also of a process: To begin.
1798. Wordsw., Peter Bell, I. 200. Who Peter was, let that be told, And start from the beginning.
1801. Farmer’s Mag., Jan., 85. Wheat started at 48s. and 50s. per boll, and has now got up to 63s.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, viii. The high tone with which the tune started, died away in a quaver of consternation.
1868. Field, 4 July, 9/2. Each bowler started with a maiden.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Library (1892), I. iii. 102. A modern essayist starts where Addison or Johnson left off.
b. With reference to reasoning. To start from or with: to assume as one’s point of departure.
1870. J. H. Newman, Gram. Assent, II. x. 408. They and I start from the same principles, and what is proof to me is a proof to them.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess. (1877), I. 51. The Darwinian theory starts from the assumption of organic types competent to reproduce themselves.
c. Of a trader, a trading firm or company: To begin one’s career. More fully to start in business.
1872. R. B. Smyth, Min. & Min. Statist., 59. The Majestic Company was formed in February, 1861, from the previous company, known as Sim and Company, who started in 1857.
1875. H. J. Byron, Our Boys, I. When I first started in business I’d the finest stock in Lambeth.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 62/2. He started in business on his own account.
d. With adverbs. To start in (U.S. colloq.): to begin. To start out: to set oneself, begin to do something.
1872. ‘Mark Twain,’ Innoc. at Home, ii. (1882), 270. So when some roughs jumped the Catholic bone-yard and started in to stake out town lots in it, he went for ’em.
1885. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 2 Jan., 7/1. The United States commissioner for Dakota … started in to give the world a comprehensive idea of the resources … of the territory.
1897. Sat. Rev., 19 June, 697/1. If Mr. Clive Holland started out to write this story without knowing [etc.].
1902. Wister, Virginian, xxix. I was starting in to die when she found me.
e. To start with (advb. phr.): = ‘to begin with’; at the beginning.
1866. Mrs. Oliphant, Agnes, I. xxii. 280. Her mind, it is true, was of a much higher order than his to start with.
13. Start up. a. To rise suddenly; to spring to an erect position (in ME. occas. † with dative of refl. pron.); also fig. to arise suddenly from inaction, bestir oneself.
c. 1205. Lay., 23951. Þær Bruttes wolden ouer water buȝen Ȝif Arður up ne sturte [c. 1275 storte] stercliche sone.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2931. And pharaon stirte up a-non, And for-bed ðis folc to gon.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6581. Þis grete louerd sturte him vp þo he oþer ne sey.
a. 1330. Roland & V., 816. When rouland herd þat steuen He stirt him vp ful euen & fauȝt wiþ hert fre.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 377. And vp they stirte, and dronken in this rage.
c. 1440. Alphabet of Tales, 83. Þis cokk starte vpp with his fedurs on, & clappid samen hys wengis & krew.
1526. Tindale, Acts xiv. 10. And he stert vppe, and walked.
1530. Palsgr., 735/1. I sterte up sodaynly out of my bedde.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. iii. 100. She … now fals on her bed, and then starts vp.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 48. Andronicus … in great rage start up and said.
1653. Dorothy Osborne, Lett. (1888), 176. I, that had not said a word all night, started up at that, and desired they would say a little more on’t, for I had not marked the beginning.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 813. Up he starts Discovers and surpriz’d.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxxviii. ‘The de’il, woman!’ exclaimed Cuddie, starting up, ‘trow ye that I am blind?’
1840. Thackeray, Shabby-genteel Story, iii. ‘This is too bad!’ said Mrs. G. starting up.
1849–50. Alison, Hist. Europe, lvii. IX. 31. Prussia … would start up the moment that a serious reverse befell their [Austria’s] eagles.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 9. Chaerephon … started up and ran to me, seizing my hand.
b. Of the hair: To stand suddenly on end.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 122. Your bedded haire … Start vp, and stand an end.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 249. The hair of my head so started up, that it threw my cap on the ground.
c. To rise suddenly to power or importance; to become suddenly conspicuous.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 51. Anon Boniface of Rome the thrid of that name steart up.
1592. Timme, Ten Eng. Lepers, B 3 b. There hath start up false Christes.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 22. Up start the Turks, a vagrant, fierce, and cruell people.
d. Of things: To come suddenly into being or notice, to spring up.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 77. Litle an litle thair forces beginning to florishe weirs of new startis vpe.
1596. Bacon, Use Com. Law (1635), 47. Since … these notable Statutes … there is start up a device called Perpetuity.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlvii. 386. So did the Papacy start up on a Sudden out of the Ruines.
1673. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. ii. 18. You are wont to object to us … that our Religion is novel, start up not many days ago.
1775. Earl Carlisle, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), III. 132. I am surrounded by difficulties, and as fast as I get the better of one another starts up.
1780. Mirror, No. 102. Half a dozen societies have started up this winter, in which female speakers exercise their powers of elocution.
1836. [Mrs. Traill], Backw. Canada, 257. A village has started up where formerly a thick pine-wood covered the ground.
† e. Of children: To grow up rapidly. Obs.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, IV. vi. 103. From a child he starts up a youth, and becomes a stripling.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1754), II. viii. 51. Girls will start up, and look up, and parents cannot help it.
f. Of a hill: To rise abruptly from the ground.
1820. Scott, Monast., ii. A beautiful green knoll, which started up suddenly in the very throat of a … narrow glen.
II. Transitive uses.
† 14. To escape. (Cf. sense 6.) Obs. rare.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 113. Atte the dredfulle day he wolle axe acomptes where as there shalle none sterte to yelde ansuere.
c. 1460. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 292. Lord, þi iugement we may not sterte.
† 15. To cause to start or flinch; to startle. Obs.
c. 1440. Ps. Penit. (1894), 31. Ther was no scorn, spotul, ne speche, Despit, ne stroke, that him sterte.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 256. Quhen a man or beste is sudaynly stert, thair naturale inclinacioun gevis thame of thair complexioun to a brethe.
1597. J. King, On Jonas (1618), 91. Do you tarry to be started with the shrillest trumpet that euer blew?
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 233. You boggle shrewdly, euery feather starts you. Ibid. (1604), Oth., I. i. 101. And now … dost thou come To start my quiet.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., III. iv. Stage-dir., He is started with Broker’s comming back.
1706. Estcourt, Fair Example, IV. i. 43. ’Twill heighten my Revenge, when she thinks I come to make fresh Offers of my Love, to start her with Neglect and Scorn.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Club), 225. What started me most was the bare plaister wall.
1822. Scott, Peveril, xxv. If my news have not frightened away Lance Outram too, whom they used to say nothing could start.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxv. 22. Soon as a mother’s step starts her.
b. To awaken out of sleep.
1753. Miss Collier, Art Torment., I. i. (1811), 33. She made such a noise as to start you suddenly out of your sleep.
1799. Campbell, Pleas. Hope, II. 349. How can thy words from balmy slumber start Reposing Virtue, pillow’d on the heart!
† 16. To ride (a horse) at full speed. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, V. 251. Till him he stert the courser wondyr wicht, Drew out a suerd, so maid [hym] for to lycht.
17. Hunting. To force (an animal, esp. a hare) to leave its lair, form or resting-place. † Also with out.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 681. But as a blende man stert an hare.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxxiv. And whenne she [the hare] is founde and stirt, he shall blowe a moot and rechate.
1473. Paston Lett. (1897), III. 83. Raff Blaundrehasset wer a name to styrte an hare. I warrant ther shall come no suche name in owr bokys, ner in owr house; it myght per case styrt xxti harys at onys.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 283 b. I haue nede of a feret, to let into this beery to styrt out the conies: that they may be take aboue ground.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, xxxvii. 100. An Hare started and a Fox vnkennelled.
1595. Locrine, V. iv. 31. What, is the tigre started from his caue?
1659. N. R., Prov., Eng. Fr., etc. 73. Little dogs start the hare, the great one gets her.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. iii. The squire, however, sent after his sister the same holla which attends the departure of a hare, when she is first started before the hounds.
1769. E. Bancroft, Guiana, 177. They … when started, fly with a loud noise.
1817. W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 833. If A. start a hare in the ground of B., and hunt and kill it there.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (ed. 2), I. 224. Shortly before outspanning we started three leopards that were consuming a duiker.
1883. G. B. Grinnell, in Century Mag., Oct. 923/2. For a week or two at a time, the meadows may be worked over without starting a bird.
b. transf.
1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., 1848. They shalbe started thence I doubt it not.
1595. Shaks., John, V. ii. 167. Do but start An eccho with the clamor of thy drumme.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 100. If we be not altogether ignorant of our selves, and wilfully blinde,… we can not choose but start and finde out a flatterer.
1716. B. Church, Hist. Philip’s War (1865), 43. They had not March’d above a quarter of a Mile before they started Three of the Enemy.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xix. The dogs bayed and howled, and we rode and scampered, and finally we started him [sc. a hunted negro].
† c. fig.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, xi. 58. We start false joys, and urge the devious race.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 693. Learn’d philologists, who chase A panting syllable through time and space, Start it at home, and hunt it in the dark.
† d. To start up (fig.): to track to its hiding-place. Also, to discover suddenly. Obs.
1566. Drant, Horace, Sat., I. v. C 4. To sterte vp in astrologie the casuals of men.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., VIII. i. (1821), 378. The minds of men … are ever and anon roving after religion; and as they casually and fortuitously start up any models and ideas of it, they are presently prone to believe themselves to have found out this only pearl of price.
1674. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 203. Now that this is almost consented to … a Patent of Sr Thomas Armstrong’s is started up to obstruct it. [Quot. 1674 may belong to 13 d.]
18. To propound (a question, an objection); to introduce (a subject of discussion).
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. iii. For then reason, like a bad hound, spends upon a false sent, and forsakes the question first started.
1656. H. Phillips, Purch. Pattern (1676), 13. I start this question.
1673. Hickeringill, Greg. Father Greyb., 230. Methinks I hear the proverb started.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 231. This Paradox, was both late started amongst the Greeks, and quickly cried down by the Succession of their Philosophers.
1710. Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, ii. 112. From what I last said another objection lies very obvious to be started.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 155. Will you give me liberty to start one difficulty here?
1786. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, Aug. Having … explained herself, she finished the subject, and has never started it since.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxviii. He prepared to apply himself … to his food, without starting another topic.
a. 1853. Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. xiii. 160. Many difficulties arose; such for instance as the one here started.
1877. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. App. 604. The charter of 934 starts a point of quite another kind.
† 19. To start out: to put forth (a projection) abruptly. Obs.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 260. It is somewhat strange, that at so great a distance from the Continent, the Sea should start out an Island about 7. Leagues in compass.
20. To discharge the contents of, empty (a vessel); to pour or shoot (liquids, coal, etc.) from one vessel into another.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Start, (Drink) Brewers emptying several Barrels into a great Tub; and thence conveying it through a Leather-pipe down the Cellar into the Butts.
1729. Capt. W. Wriglesworth, MS. Log-bk. of the ‘Lyell,’ 27 Oct. Took in 15 Puncheons of Water and started them into the Empty Butts in the Hold.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 88. The Captain told him not to start the Powder … without his Orders.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 16 March, 4/2. Every exertion was … made to lighten the ship, by starting the water.
1820. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 399. Which fenk-back is sometimes provided with a clough … for ‘starting’ the fenks into a barge or lighter placed below.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 24. Charcoal might be started at once from its charring place to close vessels. Ibid., 102. The wine was anciently started into lead cisterns.
1826. Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 65. A stock of old beer can thus be increased expeditiously: start half of one full vat, when it is getting a little age, into another, and fill up both with new beer.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xvi. The cocoa was in the tub,… but they started it all in the lee-scuppers.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 118. A small place … wherein the powder is started.
fig. 1879. L. Stephen, Hours in Library, Ser. III. 273. When the cares of life begin to press, they start their cargo of classical lumber and fill the void with law or politics.
b. Naut. (See quot. 1846.)
1744. J. Philips, Jrnl. Exped. Anson, 152. At Daylight observing our Ship had started her Anchors, we lowered our Yards.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 296. Start an Anchor, to make it lose its hold of the ground…. Start a tack, or a sheet, to slack it off a little.
21. To cause (a material thing) to ‘start’ or break away from its place; to displace by pressure or strain. Of a ship: To suffer the starting or giving way of (a plank, etc.).
1676. Wiseman, Chirurg. Treat., VII. iv. 485. Another having by accident of a Fall in wrastling started the end of the Clavicle from the Sternon.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 46. Which may be of dangerous consequence … in starting the But.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. iii. (ed. 4), 33. The ship in rolling … started the butt ends of her planking.
1753. Phil. Trans., XLVIII. 91. A plank of this door was started, and beat in.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, xii. She had started one of her planks, and filled.
1840. Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., III. 137/2. The damage she sustained was trifling,… not a rivet was started.
b. Mining. To displace (a vein) horizontally: said of another vein intersecting it.
1758. Borlase, Nat. Hist. Cornwall, 157. Guessing then from their experience in like cases that the lode is heaved, or more properly speaking started.
22. To cause (a person, an animal, a vehicle) to start or set out in a race, on a journey; to cause to begin moving in any kind of progression. Also with off.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Horse-racing, Start him off roundly, and run him to the very Top of what he can do.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., i. (1858), 7. Her unprecedented success started numbers on her track.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XXI. vi. VI. 597. Draught-horses … whom … you would see spring at the ropes … thirty of them to a gun, when started and gee-ho’d to.
1885. Law Rep., 10 Prob. Div. 100. The vessel was started again on her voyage with the machinery unaltered.
1890. Mrs. Kingscote, Tales of Sun, x. 125. This she gave to the brothers to eat on their way, and started them off to the woods.
fig. 1781. Cowper, Charity, 565. So self starts nothing but what tends apace Home to the goal where it began the race.
b. To enter (a horse) for a race.
1885. Truth, 29 May, 853/2. The Payne Stakes, for which Lord Hastings very wisely started Melton.
23. To cause to begin to act or operate. a. To cause or enable (a person) to start or enter on some course of action; to set up or establish in business.
1735. Dyche & Pardon, Dict., Start … in the Brewers Trade, ’tis to supply a Customer with a Cellar of Beer, Ale, &c. in order to keep, settle, and refine some Months before it be drawn, &c.
1757. Foote, Author, I. Wks. 1799, I. 138. I intend giving him the run of Jonathan’s for three months to understand trade and the funds; and then I’ll start him.
1854. Poultry Chron., I. 69. The plan for starting the cottager in business … may appear tardy in its results.
b. To set on foot, initiate, be the first to move in (a business); to set (a rumor) in circulation; † to originate, be the first to practise (an art).
1666. Pepys, Diary, 24 June. He started a discourse of a talk he hears about the town.
1699. Bentley, Phalaris, 237. Allowing then, that this Epigenes … started Tragedy before Thespis; still [etc.].
1723. Waterland, 2nd Vind. Christ’s Div., 95. Before the Arian Controversy was started.
1777. Burke, Lett. to E. Perry, Wks. 1842, II. 405. The fair part, which the Whigs had acted in a business, which, though first started by them, was supposed equally acceptable to all sides.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. IV. 380. The Canons of Lyons started the opinion.
1902. R. Bagot, Donna Diana, xx. 242. Honourable? Oh yes, no doubt it is honourable—according to the conception of honour existing among those who have started the story.
c. To set going, cause to begin to operate; to set (machinery) in motion. Also with complementary infinitive or gerund.
1841. in London’s Suburban Hort. (1842), 511. Cucumbers will succeed beautifully, trained against a south wall, if planted in a little good soil to start them.
1846. Soyer, Cookery, 330. Start it to boil over the fire.
1850. Mech. Mag., 20 April, 315. At the slightest tap of one of these bells, these enormous engines are stopped, or started or reversed.
1865. Intell. Observ., No. 36. 419. By the time I had started my fire.
1885. Law Times Rep., LIII. 52/1. The small quantity of … black smoke necessary to start the fires.
1901. Daily Express, 28 Feb., 5/1. The private member … started the ball rolling by attacking the government [etc.].
d. To set (a person) going in conversation, to induce to begin to talk on some subject.
1877. Phyllis, xx. I would back mamma, once started, to hold her own against any of those Billingsgate ladies one hears of.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. Miss Riddell,… by a judicious question or two, started the old gentleman on one of his favorite topics.
e. To set on foot (an institution), establish.
1859. Lever, Dav. Dunn, lxxvi. 669. What a head it must have been that … started companies, opened banks, worked mines, [etc.].
1864. Sat. Rev., 27 Aug., 257/1. The list of possible religions is closed in France, and no one is permitted to start a new one.
1884. E. Yates, Recoll., II. 322. You don’t mean to say … that you actually mean to start a paper of the kind set forth?
f. To begin to keep as part of one’s establishment; to ‘set up’ (e.g., a horse, a carriage).
1851. D. Jerrold, St. Giles, viii. 78. His wife suggested he should forthwith start a horse and very genteel cart.
1866. ‘Annie Thomas,’ Walter Goring, I. xvii. 251. I often thought it a pity that your uncle did not keep up the kennels … I wish you’d start them again!
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xxv. 415. He is sure to start a yacht for one thing.
24. To begin (some action or operation). Often with obj. a gerund; also with infinitive. Also said of a thing.
1833. Newman, Lett. (1891), I. 434. I had before this written to Rose how we had best start agitating.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, i. 10. The young fellow … started another ballad.
1884. Manch. Exam., 20 May, 5/2. He started business on a capital which he would now-a-days consider ridiculously small.
1891. C. Roberts, Adrift Amer., 181. There would be no chance of crossing it [the river] for some days…, even if it started to go down at once.
1902. W. W. Jacobs, Lady of Barge, 10. Miss Harris … waved the amorous Ted on deck, and started work on her disarranged hair.
1914. R. Curle, Life Is a Dream, 256. It was most unfortunate that at that instant the outer door bell of his flat should start ringing.
† 25. ? To provide, supply. Obs.
1826. H. N. Coleridge, Six Months W. Indies, 28. They start you an exquisite luncheon of wines, oranges, and grapes at each [country residence].
26. slang. (See quot.)
1825. Gentl. Mag., XCV. I. 397. ‘I started him.’ To start is to apply a smart word to an idle or forgetful person.
† 27. Naut. To flog with a rope’s end. Obs.
[1801: see STARTING vbl. sb. 1.]
1813. Sir F. Burdett, in Hansard’s Parl. Deb., XXV. 390. To … make him sweep the ship, and if he did not, to get him well started (beaten with a rope’s end).
1824. Ann. Reg., Chron., 33. The charge of severely starting marines and seamen, and flogging others on their breech.
1836. ‘Jack Nasty-Face,’ Naut. Econ., 119. Upwards of three hundred men had been flogged or started.
III. 28. The verb-stem in combination: start-away, † (a) a renegade, deserter (obs.); (b) a starting away, sudden deviation from a course; start-back, ? (a) a deserter (obs.); (b) an act of starting back.
1578. Timme, Calvin on Gen., xv. 318. Being degenerate and *start-awayes from the faith of their fathers.
1840. Browning, Sordello, III. 632. Some slight weariness, some looking-off Or start-away.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIII. xviii. 486. These *start-backs had no other place of haunt to lurke in, but Capua.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 179. So we see in Strings; the more they are wound vp, and strained; (And thereby giue a more quicke Start-backe;) the more Treble is the Sound.
Hence Started, ppl. a., in senses of the verb; also with adv. as started-up.
1646. Crashaw, Steps to Temple, 43. Why blusht the day? Why ran the started aire trembling away?
1679. Longueville, in Hatton Corr. (Camden), I. 181. This new started question about their Speaker.
1764. H. Walpole, Otranto, iv. (1765), 166. Whoever weds Isabella, it shall not be Father Falconara’s started up son. They start up, said the Friar, who are suddenly beheld in the seat of lawful Princes.
1902. S. Sheldon & H. Mason, Altern.-Current Machines, 23. Magnetic Energy of a Started Current.
