Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Challenge \Chal"lenge\, 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.
I challenge any man to make any pretense to power by
right of fatherhood. --Locke.
2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by
personal combat.
By this I challenge him to single fight. --Shak.
3. To claim as due; to demand as a right.
Challenge better terms. --Addison.
4. To censure; to blame. [Obs.]
He complained of the emperors . . . and challenged
them for that he had no greater revenues . . . from
them. --Holland.
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?''
6. To take exception to; question; as, to challenge the
accuracy of a statement or of a quotation.
7. (Law) To object to or take exception to, as to a juror, or
member of a court.
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.]
{To challenge to the} {array, favor, polls}. See under
{Challenge}, n.