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.
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.
To challenge to thearray, favor, polls. See under Challenge, n.