Meaning and usage of the word awoken in English

The English word "awoken" is the past participle form of the verb "awake," which means "to free oneself from sleep" or "to become conscious." This verb is derived from the Old English word "āwcōwan," which in turn came from the Proto-Germanic "auccōwan," meaning "to be wide awake." The Middle English form of the verb was "awoken," which was eventually replaced by the more common "awaked" in the 15th century. However, "awoken" has experienced a resurgence in usage in recent times, as a result of lingering regional dialects and the influence of Scandinavian languages, such as Danish and Norwegian, where the equivalent term "våkn," in its past participle form "våket," is still widely used. The reason behind this revival of "awoken" is not entirely clear, but it is suggested that it could be due to linguistic developments and the evolution of English as a global language, with its constantly expanding vocabulary and the influence of foreign languages. Nevertheless, "awoken" remains a less commonly used alternative to "awakened" or "woke," and its usage is typically confined to more literary or poetic contexts, where it may be preferred for its rhythmic and sonic qualities.