awake definition

1. To rouse from sleep.; to wake; to awaken. "Where morning's earliest ray . . . Awake her." (Tennyson) "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish." (Matt. Viii. 25)

2. To rouse from a state resembling sleep, as from death, stupidity, or inaction; to put into action; to give new life to; to stir up; as, to awake the dead; to awake the dormant faculties. "I was soon awaked from this disagreeable reverie." (Goldsmith) "It way awake my bounty further." (Shak) "No sunny gleam awakes the trees." (Keble)

Origin: Awoke, Awaked; Awaked; (Obs) Awaken, Awoken; . Awaking. The form Awoke is sometimes used as a] [AS. Awaecnan, v. I. (imp. Awc), and awacian, v. I. (imp. Awacode). See Awaken, Wake.

Not sleeping or lethargic; roused from sleep; in a state of vigilance or action. "Before whom awake I stood." (Milton) "She still beheld, Now wide awake, the vision of her sleep." (Keats) "He was awake to the danger." (Froude)

Origin: From awaken, old p. P. Of awake.

(01 Mar 1998)