Doubletake

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An immediate response of surprise prompting one to re-evaluate something previously observed can reveal additional insights
2. A sudden reaction of astonishment that causes an individual to reconsider what has just been seen or perceived leads to a deeper understanding
3. An abrupt moment of disbelief that compels a person to reassess an earlier observation often uncovers new details

Etymology: The double take is a piece of stage business: an actor glances at something, then, a beat later, snaps their head back for a second look, as if their brain has only just caught up with their eyes. The "take" half comes from acting, where a "take" is a performer's visible reaction to something, usually a facial response held on camera or on stage. Comedy performers in particular prized the delayed, exaggerated version, and the compound describes the reaction doubled, one look followed by a corrective second look. The word is a noun built from the two plain English words "double" and "take," with no older form behind it. Its meaning has since widened from the physical gesture of a comic actor to any moment of sudden disbelief in which a person re-examines something they have just seen or heard. That shift from a performed gag to an everyday mental reflex is the main story here, and the compound itself is formed in the most transparent way English allows.

Synonyms: reaction, surprise, gasp, startle, shock