Crossword Genius

Surprise beginning to the half mile (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

startle

'surprise' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'beginning to the half mile' is the wordplay.
'beginning' becomes 'start' ('start' can be a synonym of 'beginning').
'to the half' means to take half the letters.
'mile' cut in half is 'le'.
'start'+'le'='STARTLE'

(Other definitions for startle that I've seen before include "Cause to feel sudden alarm" , "Scare" , "Frighten suddenly" , "Surprise with fright" , "Alarm suddenly" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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