'awaken' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'awacan', where the prefix 'a-' was a causative/adverbial element and 'wacan' meant 'to wake'.

'awaken' changed from the Old English word 'awacan' (also seen as 'awecnan' in some dialects) into Middle English forms like 'awakenen'/'awaken', and eventually became the modern English 'awaken'.

Initially, it meant 'to cause to wake from sleep'; over time its meaning broadened to include 'to rouse emotionally or intellectually' and 'to make active or aware'.