'awakener' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the verb 'awaken' + the agentive suffix '-er'.

'awaken' comes from Old English (for example 'awæcnan' / 'awacan'), built from the prefix 'a-' + 'wacan' meaning 'to wake'; through Middle English it became 'awaken', and the agent noun 'awakener' was later formed by adding '-er'.

Initially related to the simple action 'to awake' or 'to rouse'; the agent noun originally meant 'one who wakes' and has retained that core meaning while also being used figuratively for things that provoke awareness.