Welcome, shacolourdes.
If you go to the alphaAgora [
http://www.alphadictionary.com/index.shtml] you can type a word into the "look it up" window and be routed to a page of reference options. (The options vary with the word requested.) My favorite is
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, when that option is available. Clicking there takes you to
awkward ETYMOLOGY: Middle English awkeward, in the wrong way : awke, wrong (from Old Norse öfugr, backward; see apo- in Appendix I) + -ward, -ward.
Clicking on that apo- will take you to the PIE roots page with additional etymology and related words info.
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You can also try
etymonline.com. Entering a word will bring up the etymology (if they have it) along with the etymologies of related words.
These links should give you a good start; this crew will be happy to add their input if you care to post what you learn.
-gailr