wide-awake
Meaning
Fully awake and alert.
Very aware of or knowledgeable about something.
Structure
Usage
After two cups of coffee, I was completely wide-awake.
The investors need to be wide-awake to the risks in the current market.
The loud noise from the street left her wide-awake for the rest of the night.
Etymology
The compound "wide-awake" is a native English formation, combining two Old English elements to create a vivid metaphorical expression. The adjective "wide," originally denoting physical breadth, was used figuratively from Middle English onward as an intensifier, akin to "fully" or "broadly." Paired with "awake," which stems from the Old English verb for rousing from sleep, the term literally means "fully roused." This literal sense of being completely alert evolved naturally into its modern figurative meanings, describing not just a state free from drowsiness but also sharp mental awareness and keen perception of one's surroundings or circumstances.
Analysis
- wide: From Old English wīd (spacious, extensive). In this compound, it functions as an intensifier meaning "fully" or "completely". - awake: From Old English āwæcnan (to arise, to wake up). It is the adjective form meaning "not asleep; alert".