Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Awaken.

2. (a.) Rousing from sleep, in a natural or a figurative sense; rousing into activity; exciting; as, the awakening city; an awakening discourse; the awakening dawn.

3. (n.) The act of awaking, or ceasing to sleep. Specifically: A revival of religion, or more general attention to religious matters than usual.