The fright awakened Arcite with a start. --Dryden.
2. A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.
For she did speak in starts distractedly. --Shak.
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a
hurry. --L'Estrange.
3. A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious
impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.
To check the starts and sallies of the soul.
--Addison.
4. The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action;
first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset;
-- opposed to {finish}.
The start of first performance is all. --Bacon.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. --Shak.
{At a start}, at once; in an instant. [Obs.]
At a start he was betwixt them two. --Chaucer.
{To get}, or {have}, {the start}, to before another; to gain
or have the advantage in a similar undertaking; -- usually
with of. ``Get the start of the majestic world.'' --Shak.
``She might have forsaken him if he had not got the start
of her.'' --Dryden.
2. To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise,
pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a
voluntary act.
And maketh him out of his sleep to start. --Chaucer.
I start as from some dreadful dream. --Dryden.
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start
aside. --I. Watts.
But if he start, It is the flesh of a corrupted
heart. --Shak.
3. To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to
begin; as, to start business.
At once they start, advancing in a line. --Dryden.
At intervals some bird from out the brakes Starts
into voice a moment, then is still. --Byron.
4. To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a
seam may start under strain or pressure.
{To start after}, to set out after; to follow; to pursue.
{To start against}, to act as a rival candidate against.
{To start for}, to be a candidate for, as an office.
{To start up}, to rise suddenly, as from a seat or couch; to
come suddenly into notice or importance.
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come To start my
quiet? --Shak.
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as C[ae]sar.
--Shak.
2. To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure
they can start. --Sir W.
Temple.
3. To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or
flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to
start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a
business.
I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which
the people love to start in discourse. --Addison.
4. To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace
or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm
started the bolts in the vessel.
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the
clavicle from the sternum. --Wiseman.
5. [Perh. from D. storten, which has this meaning also.]
(Naut.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing
from; as, to start a water cask.
2. The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.
[Prov. Eng.]
3. The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel
bucket.
4. (Mining) The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a
horse.