'awkwarder' ultimately derives from the adjective 'awkward'. 'Awkward' originates from Middle English elements including 'awk' plus the suffix '-ward'. The element 'awk' traces back to Old Norse 'afugr'. In Old Norse 'a-' indicated 'off' or 'away' and 'fugr' (or related root) conveyed a sense of 'turned' or 'backward'.

'afugr' (Old Norse) gave rise to Middle English forms such as 'awk' meaning 'turned the wrong way' or 'perverse'; with the addition of the directional/adjectival suffix '-ward' this developed into Middle/early Modern English 'awkward' and later the comparative 'awkwarder'.

Initially it meant 'turned the wrong way' or 'perverse/off-kilter'; over time its sense shifted toward 'clumsy, lacking grace' and 'causing embarrassment', which is reflected in the modern meanings.