'away' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'aweg' (also found as 'onweg'), where 'a-' meant 'away/from' and 'weg' meant 'way'.

'away' changed from Old English 'aweg' (and forms like 'onweg') to Middle English forms such as 'awei'/'away', and eventually became the modern English word 'away'.

Initially, it meant 'away, forth', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not at home; to or at another place'.