n. [ OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See Calumny. ] 1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons. [ 1913 Webster ]

A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A claim or demand. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

There must be no challenge of superiority. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) An exception to a juror or to a member of a court martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his cause. Blackstone [ 1913 Webster ]

6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Challenge to the array (Law), an exception to the whole panel. --
Challenge to the favor, the alleging a special cause, the sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and office it is to decide upon it. --
Challenge to the polls, an exception taken to any one or more of the individual jurors returned. --
Peremptory challenge, a privilege sometimes allowed to defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors (fixed by statute in different States) without assigning any cause. --
Principal challenge, that which the law allows to be sufficient if found to be true. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

v. i. To assert a right; to claim a place. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be challenged. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having doubts expressed about its truth.
Syn. -- disputed, questioned. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. handicapped or disabled; -- used as a euphemism, especially in combinations; as, physically challenged; mentally challenged. [ PJC ]

n. One who challenges. [ 1913 Webster ]