'reawakenings' originates from the English prefix 're-' (from Latin 're-' meaning 'again') combined with 'awaken' and the noun-forming suffix '-ing' plus plural '-s'.

'awaken' comes from Old English 'awæcnan' (or 'wacan' with a prefixed 'a-'), which became Middle English 'awaken'; adding the prefix 're-' formed 'reawaken' in modern English, and '-ing' made 'reawakening', later pluralized to 'reawakenings'.

Initially related specifically to 'coming out of sleep' (to wake), the term broadened over time to include figurative senses such as 'revival' or 'renewed activity or interest'.