v. Forms: 1 awæcn-an, 2–5 awakn-en, 3–5 awaken-e(n, 4– awaken. [OE. a-wæcn-an, earlier on-wæcn-an, f. A- pref. 2 + wæcnan, to WAKEN. For the form-history, and its complication with that of AWAKE, see the latter. In OE. awæcnan was a str. vb. with pa. t. and pple. awóc, awacen. But sometimes the present stem (being irregular) was mistaken for a weak verb, whence already in 9th c. the pa. awæcnede, mod. awakened, which is now treated as the proper pa. t., while awoke and its accompanying pa. pple. are referred to the originally weak awake. Like awake, this was also at first strictly intrans.; the transitive use is of comparatively recent appearance, but now (in sense 5) the most frequent.]
(In early use, rarely in the literal sense of awake; commonly transf. or fig. See senses 2, 3, 5. We still prefer awaken to awake in sense 5. See also the derivatives below, in which the transferred sense is the usual one in modern use.)
I. intransitive.
1. lit. = AWAKE v. 1.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Past., 459. Ðæt we onwæcnen of slæpe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIX. 478. I awakned þere-with & wrote as me mette.
1653. Nissena, 29. He awakened, and found himselfe void of the hopes of asking.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., 267. When the captive awakened, the sun was high in heaven.
1819. R. Chapman, Jas. V., 129. When the king awakened he was in a great rage.
† 2. transf. To arise or spring into existence, originate. (The usual sense in OE.) Obs.
c. 885. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. xi. § 5. Eall heora ʓewinn awæcnedon ærest fram Alexandres epistole.
a. 1000. Crist (Grein), 67. Nú is þæt bearn cumen, awæcned.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 422. Of idelnesse awakeneð muchel flesshes fondunge.
3. transf. and fig. = AWAKE v. 2, 3.
1768. Wesley, Jrnl., 23 April (1827), III. 308. Just awakening, and darkly feeling after God.
1827. Carlyle, Misc., I. 24. The genius of the country has awakened.
1881. Nonconf., 15 Sept., 867/1. A mind that has once awakened to this great and most distressing fact.
II. transitive.
4. lit. To rouse from sleep.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. viii. 7. The blysfull lycht … Awalkynnit king Euander.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 42. Hath that awakened you?
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 672. Satan … his next subordinate Awak’ning.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xvii. Even this failed to awaken the sleeper.
5. transf. and fig. To rouse into activity; to stir up, excite; kindle (desire, anxiety, interest, attention, etc.); in Theol. to arouse to a sense of sin.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 119. Lord Angelo … thinking me remisse … awakens mee.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., IV. xlv. 355. To awaken … their Piety and Industry.
1767. Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom., I. i. 11. I would … awaken your ambition.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., IV. ii. (1874), 499. The cry of distress … awakens compassion.
