Challenge word meaning and definition

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

\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.

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