Forms: α. 3 kalange-n, kalenge-n, 3–5 calange(n, 3–6 calenge(n. β. 3–6 chalange, 3–7 chalenge, 4 chalaunge, -unge, -inge, -ynge, -ang, schalange, ? chalain, (4–5 Sc. challanss, 6 chaleng, chalynch, challynge, Sc. challance, 6–7 challeng), 7 challendge, 5– challenge. [ME. kalange-n, chalange-n, a. OF. ca-, chalonger, -langer, -lenger (with numerous variant forms) = Pr. calonjar, OSp. caloñar:—late L. calumniāre, for calumniāri to accuse falsely, f. calumnia: see prec. Cf. F. songer from L. somniāre.]
† 1. trans. To accuse, bring a charge against, arraign, impeach. Also absol. Obs. (or ? dial.)
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 54. Hwarof kalenges tu me?
1340. Ayenb., 43. Þe zenne … of sergons þet accuseþ and calengeþ þet poure uolc.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 60. Gud schir dauid the brechyne Thai gert challanss richt stratly syne.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. xiv. 558. If eny man wolde chalenge a frere.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia, II. 160. To be challenged of unkindness.
1593. Q. Eliz., Sp., in Harl. Misc. (1809), II. 261. The king of Spain doth challenge me to be the quarreller, and the beginner of all these wars.
1649. Bp. Guthrie, Mem. (1702), 75. The E. of Stafford was Challeng’d and made Prisoner.
1655. Fuller, Waltham Abb., 6. Let none challenge the words of impropriety.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 321. To challenge, or accuse one.
† b. To lay (an offence) to one’s charge, accuse one of. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 279. Seyn Dunston … kalangede her mys-dede.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lv[i]. 6. If þai myght chalange oght in vs.
1485. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, IV. xxxiii. (1527), 180 b. Unwyse handelynge is chalenged of the.
2. To find fault with, reprove, reprehend; to call upon to answer for something, or to give account of oneself; to call to account. Now only dial. exc. as in b.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19148. Es it … resun þat we Calanged [v.r. chalaunged, schalanged, chalanged] for ur gode dede be?
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 174. [I] am chalanged in þe chapitel hous, as I a childe were.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 68. Chalengyn or vndyrtakyn, reprehendo.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxiv. § 6. Why were they dumb, being thus challenged?
1642. R. Harris, Serm., 20. If God fill not every vessell, challenge him upon that his word, Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
a. 1714. Burnet, Own Time, II. 411. He was warned of it, and challenged him on it.
1855. Scotticisms corrected, 10. His father never challenged him for lying.
Mod. Sc. I have never been challenged for crossing these fields.
b. Said of a sentinel; and in derived fig. uses.
1796. Southey, Joan of Arc, VI. 50. The sentinel … with uplifted lance Challenged the darkling travellers.
1833. Regul. & Instr. Cavalry, I. 28. On any one approaching his post, he must challenge them by the words ‘Who comes there’?
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. i. 44. In the country every unknown face was challenged and examined.
1878. Browning, La Saisiaz, 6. No blue space in its outspread … challenged my emerging head.
c. Also said of the hounds giving mouth on finding a scent.
1677. N. Cox, Gentl. Recreat., I. (1706), 17. When Hounds or Beagles at first finding the Scent of their Game presently open and cry, we then say, they Challenge.
1751. in Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Hunting.
1781. P. Beckford, Hunting (1802), 238. It is a great pleasure, when a hound challenges, to be certain that he is right.
3. Law. To object or take exception to (a juryman, evidence, etc.); to take an initial exception to (any proceeding). Also absol.
[1292. Britton, I. v. § 8. Et cum … les jurours soint venuz en court, si porunt il estre chalengez: Sire, il n’ i deit estre, car mei endita, [etc.].]
c. 1570. Thynne, Pride & Lowl. (1841), 17. Ye may him chalenge from your jury.
1572. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 389. We may lawfully chalenge the aray, being enpanelled by … a partial shirif.
1772. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 104/2. The corporation objected to the whole jury, which in law language is called challenging the array.
c. 1781. Trial George Gordon, 8. When the panel was called over a second time, the prisoner by his counsel, peremptorily challenged nineteen, and the Attorney-General for the Crown, challenged seven.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 87–8. Anybody may challenge on the ground that so and so is unfit.
1883. Law Rep., XI. Queen’s B. Div., 598. The evidence of the women was accepted and not challenged.
4. To call in question, dispute.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Wyf’s T., 344. Povert is … Possessioun that no wight wil chalenge.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., III. xi. 189. Whether the lordes by whos landes a kynge … muste passe may challenge hym the passage.
1625. Bp. Mountagu, App. Cæsar., 1. Whatsoever They have challenged and articled against in their accusation.
1825. Scott, Talism., ii. I were wrong to challenge … the privilege of thy speech, since boasting is more natural to thee than truth.
1869. Huxley, in Sci. Opinion, 5 May, 486/2. As a temporary measure, I do not presume to challenge its wisdom.
5. To assert one’s title to, lay claim to, demand as a right, claim for, arrogate (to obs.) oneself. arch. or Obs. a. with simple object. arch.
a. 1240. Wohunge, in Cott. Hom., 275. Þi derue deað o rode … calenges al mi heorte.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 7512. Heo is my qwene; Y hire chalenge.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 596. Nat that I chalenge eny thing of right Of yow, my soverayn lady, but youre grace.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., IV. (1520), 31/1. To calenge the trybute whiche they did denye.
1513. More, Edw. V., 3. [He] began not by warre, but by Law to challenge the crown.
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. 1 Peter i. 21. That we should therby chalenge no prayse vnto our selues.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 298. It is for the French King, who is here taken prisoner, and there are mo then .x. knights and squires that challenge the taking of him and of his sonne.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 1. I challenge no thankes for what I publish.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., I. (1736), 13. These Urns will challenge above 1300 Years.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 329. A Gentleman that challenges the Title of Honourable.
1746. Smollett, Reproof, 7. An injured friend!—who challenges the name? If you, what Title justifies the claim?
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. iii. 140. Causes which led them to challenge Imperial rank.
† b. with inf. as object. Obs.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 7303. Ye chalangith al to habbe.
138[?]. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 220. Men that calengen here to be evene wiþ Crist.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 190. As thou challengest to be noble in bloud, [etc.].
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 483. Can yee challenge to possesse the land in the right of Abraham.
1683. Pennsylv. Archives, I. 70. Where he challenged … to have spoak so.
† c. with object clause. Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 76. Nowe clerkis … chalungen to hem þat only it perteniþ to hem to punisch symony, [etc.].
1660. Fuller, Mixt Contempl., i. (1841), 197. If fifth monarchy men challenge to themselves that they must be exempted from their obedience.
† d. with object and complement. Obs.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxvii. 717. For his love that ye calangen youre lord, I schal yow socowren.
1493. Festivall (W. de W., 1515), 4 b. Fendes chalengynge hym theyres as by ryght.
1559. Bp. Scot, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. II. App. vii. 15. Challynging Christe to be ther foundation.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., I. iv. § 9. The Chronicle of Westminster challengeth the same to be done in their Convent.
† e. absol.
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. i. 54. That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.
6. fig. To have a natural right or claim to; to demand, to call for. arch.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 89 b. The Peare … chalengeth the nexte place, and is one of the cheefest beauties of the Orcharde.
1622. Fletcher, Sp. Curate, III. iii. Whose honest cause … Will challenge Iustice.
1648. Evelyn, Corr. (1857), III. 10. Yours of the 6th and 9th of May received, challenges this account from me.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 4. Bruges … may well challenge place among the Cities of the second rate in Europe.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Eng. Sat., Wks. 1730, I. 26. Horace and Juvenal … challenge a superiority above all the rest.
b. Now esp. To claim (some responsive action or recognition on the part of others, e.g., attention, regard, respect, approbation, admiration).
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 33. The Aquaduct made by the Emperour Valentinian … doth principally challeng remembrance.
1691. Ray, Creation, II. (1704), 455. Our better part challenges our greatest care and diligence.
1766. Anstey, Bath Guide, viii. 42. Men … That challenge Respect from all Persons of Birth.
1787. Bonnycastle, Astron., i. 3. Astronomy … has challenged the admiration of all ages.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), II. 77. Unless his merit should challenge the popular approbation.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., IV. § 32. 330. A strange thing—one sufficiently anomalous to challenge attention.
7. To summon or invite defiantly to a contest or any trial of daring or skill; to defy, dare. (Often to do something, or to an action.)
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. xiii. 2. South pipand windis … Challancis to pas on burd.
1529. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1178/2. Euery man that feeleth him selfe challenged and prouoked by temptacion.
1633. P. Fletcher, Pisc. Ecl., I. vii. I durst to challenge all my fisher-peers.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1151. I … challenge Dagon to the test.
1769. Lett. Junius, xix. 85. We … are challenged to produce a precedent.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 368. Challenge the son of Tendal to a competition in song with you.
1855. Kingsley, Heroes, Theseus, II. 211. He challenges all comers to wrestle with him. Ibid. (1866), Herew., x. 151. You must not challenge me to find it out.
b. To invite (emulous, hostile or critical action of any kind). (Cf. 6 b.)
1614. Bp. Hall, Recoll. Treat., 770. Wee doe vtterly deny it, and challenge your proofe.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, D iv a. Your Apollo’s Oracle-like Arcenall, may challenge the most sublime proffers of men of parts.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 75. 142. Prudence is a real Perfection, which Challenges the nicest Observation.
1850. Prescott, Peru, II. 205. Such a one as might have challenged comparison with the bravest of his ancestors.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, xiv. 226. They could challenge criticism with an easy confidence.
1882. H. Blunt, Ref. Ch. Eng., II. 283. Challenging controversy in every possible way.
8. spec. To call upon to answer an imputation by combat; to summon to fight, or to a duel.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 696. Hector will challenge him. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., III. ii. 36. Challenge me the Counts youth to fight with him.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 37/1. Pittacus … challeng’d Phryno to single Combat.
1839. Thirlwall, Greece, II. 166. With the intention … of challenging him to a conflict.
Mod. The officer challenged his rival.
b. intr. or absol.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 399. Y chalenge wiþ þe to fiȝt.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 125. They challenge, and encounter Breast to Breast.
1762. Churchill, Ghost, I. 297. So he that challenges might write Only to those who would not fight.
† c. To challenge a person the field. Obs.
[1556. Chron. G. Friars (1852), 7. Roberte of Vere chalynched them in the felde and was overcome.]
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 136. To challenge him the field, and then to breake promise with him.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 477. The disagreement grew so high, that they challenged the field one of another. [Ibid., 601. To challenge one into the field: in arenam provocare.]
Hence Challenged ppl. a., Challenging vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 173. Isaak a partie had mad a chalangyng.
c. 1440. Ipomydon, 1280. Sithe I was not at the justynge, I will not be at the chalengynge.
1578. Thynne, Lett., in Animadv., Introd. (1865), 59. I haue thought yt my chalenged dutye … by penne to desplay my inwarde mynde.
1697. [see CHALLENGER b.].
1825. Bentham, Ration. Reward, 20. The practice … in many schools, called challenging … he who stands at the head of the class begins the exercise: does he make a mistake, the next to him in succession corrects him and takes his place.
1842. H. E. Manning, Serm. (1848), I. vii. 94. The whole inmost soul is bent into a challenging array.
