Definitions for: Challenge


[n] a demand by a sentry for a password or identification
[n] questioning a statement and demanding an explanation; "he challenged the assumption that Japan is our enemy"
[n] a formal objection to the selection of a particular person as a juror
[n] a call to engage in a contest or fight
[n] a demanding or stimulating situation; "they reacted irrationally to the challenge of Russian power"
[v] raise a formal objection in a court of law
[v] ask for identification; "The illegal immigrant was challenged by the border guard"
[v] issue a challenge to; "Fischer challenged Spassky to a match"
[v] take exception to; "She challenged his claims"



Webster (1913) Definition: Chal"lenge, 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.

A challenge to controversy. --Goldsmith.

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

3. A claim or demand. [Obs.]

There must be no challenge of superiority.
--Collier.

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

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

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

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.


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.


Chal"lenge, v. i.
To assert a right; to claim a place.

Where nature doth with merit challenge. --Shak.

Synonyms: dispute, gainsay, take exception

See Also: appeal, bespeak, bid, call, call for, call into question, call out, calling into question, call-out, confrontation, contend, contest, counterchallenge, dare, dare, daring, defiance, defy, demand, demand for explanation, demand for identification, halt, impeach, impugn, inquiring, invite, litigate, object, objection, oppugn, process, provoke, quest, question, questioning, remand, remit, repugn, request, send back, situation, speech act, state of affairs, stimulate, stop, sue

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