■ noun
1》 a call to someone to participate in a contest or fight to decide who is superior.
↘a demanding task or situation.
↘an attempt to win a sporting contest.
2》 a call to prove or justify something.
3》 Medicine exposure of the immune system to pathogenic organisms or antigens.
■ verb
1》 dispute the truth or validity of.
↘ Law object to (a jury member).
↘(of a guard) order (someone) to prove their identity.
2》 invite (someone) to engage in a contest or fight.
↘make a rival claim to (a position).
↘[usu. as adjective challenging ] test the abilities of.
3》 Medicine expose (the immune system) to pathogenic organisms or antigens.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~r noun
challengingly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. chalenge (n.), chalenger (v.), from L. calumnia 'calumny', calumniari 'calumniate'.