asustar

Meaning

1. (transitive) to scare, to frighten, to spook
2. (transitive) to freak out (somebody), to creep out
3. (transitive) to startle
4. (reflexive) to be scared, frightened
5. (reflexive) to freak out, to get freaked out, to panic

Hyphenated as

a‧sus‧tar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/asusˈtaɾ/

Etymology

Either derived from a- + susto (“fright”) + -ar, or less likely from a Latin suscitāre (which would hypothetically make it a cognate with English suscitate). More likely linked to Latin substāre, from sub- + stō. Compare Portuguese assustar.