v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Challenged p. pr. & vb. n. Challenging. ] [ OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier, chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack with false accusations. See Challenge, n., and cf. Calumniate. ] 1. To call to a contest of any kind; to call to answer; to defy. [ 1913 Webster ]
I challenge any man to make any pretense to power by right of fatherhood. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by personal combat. [ 1913 Webster ]
By this I challenge him to single fight. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. To claim as due; to demand as a right. [ 1913 Webster ]
Challenge better terms. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. To censure; to blame. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
He complained of the emperors . . . and challenged them for that he had no greater revenues . . . from them. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. (Mil.) To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines); as, the sentinel challenged us, with “Who comes there?” [ 1913 Webster ]
6. To take exception to; question; as, to challenge the accuracy of a statement or of a quotation. [ 1913 Webster ]
7. (Law) To object to or take exception to, as to a juror, or member of a court. [ 1913 Webster ]
8. To object to the reception of the vote of, as on the ground that the person in not qualified as a voter. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
To challenge to the
array, favor, polls. See under Challenge, n. [ 1913 Webster ]
