Challenged - Definitions from Dictionary.com

4 results for: Challenged

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

chal·lenged [chal-injd] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	(used as a euphemism) disabled or handicapped (usually prec. by an adverb): physically challenged.

2.	deficient or lacking (usually prec. by an adverb or noun): ethically challenged.

[Origin: 1980–85, Americanism

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Challenged

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

chal·lenge

Audio Help [chal-inj] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -lenged, -leng·ing, adjective

–noun

1.	a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.

2.	something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.

3.	a call to fight, as a battle, a duel, etc.

4.	a demand to explain, justify, etc.: a challenge to the treasurer to itemize expenditures.

5.	difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.

6.	Military. the demand of a sentry for identification or a countersign.

7.	Law. a formal objection to the qualifications of a particular juror, to his or her serving, or to the legality of an entire jury. Compare peremptory challenge.

8.	the assertion that a vote is invalid or that a voter is not legally qualified.

9.	Biology. the process of inducing or assessing physiological or immunological activity by exposing an organism to a specific substance.

10.	Hunting. the crying of a hound on finding a scent.

–verb (used with object)

11.	to summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.

12.	to take exception to; call in question: to challenge the wisdom of a procedure.

13.	to demand as something due or rightful.

14.	Military. to halt and demand identification or countersign from.

15.	Law. to take formal exception to (a juror or jury).

16.	to have a claim to; invite; arouse; stimulate: a matter which challenges attention.

17.	to assert that (a vote) is invalid.

18.	to assert that (a voter) is not qualified to vote.

19.	to expose an organism to a specific substance in order to assess its physiological or immunological activity.

20.	Archaic. to lay claim to.

–verb (used without object)

21.	to make or issue a challenge.

22.	Hunting. (of hounds) to cry or give tongue on picking up the scent.

–adjective

23.	donated or given by a private, corporate, or government benefactor on condition that the recipient raise an additional specified amount from the public: a challenge grant.

[Origin: 1175–1225; ME chalenge < OF, var. of chalonge < L calumnia calumny

]

—Related forms

chal·lenge·a·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 11. dare, bid, invite. 12. question, impute, doubt.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

chal·lenge Audio Help (chāl'ənj) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition: a challenge to a duel.
2. An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation: a challenge to the government's authority.
A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question: a challenge to a theory.
A sentry's call to an unknown party for proper identification.
A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking: a career that offers a challenge.
A claim that a vote is invalid or that a voter is unqualified.
Law A formal objection to the inclusion of a prospective juror in a jury.
Immunology The induction or evaluation of an immune response in an organism by administration of a specific antigen to which it has been sensitized.

v. chal·lenged, chal·leng·ing, chal·leng·es

v. tr.

1. To call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition: challenged me to a game of chess.
2. To invite with defiance; dare: challenged him to contradict her. See Synonyms at defy.
To take exception to; call into question; dispute: a book that challenges established beliefs.
To order to halt and be identified, as by a sentry.
Law To take formal objection to (a prospective juror).
To question the qualifications of (a voter) or validity of (a vote).
To have due claim to; call for: events that challenge our attention.
To summon to action, effort, or use; stimulate: a problem that challenges the imagination.
Immunology To induce or evaluate an immune response in (an organism) by administering a specific antigen to which it has been sensitized.

v. intr.

To make or give voice to a challenge.
To begin barking upon picking up the scent. Used of hunting dogs.

[Middle English chalenge, from Old French, from Latin calumnia, trickery, false accusation; see calumny. V., from Middle English chalengen, from Old French chalangier, from Latin calumniārī, from calumnia.]

chal'lenge·a·ble adj.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

chal·lenged Audio Help (chāl'ənjd) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Having a disability or impairment.
Deficient or lacking: an ethically challenged politician.

Usage Note: People who object to the terms disabled and handicapped as being too negative sometimes propose the substitution of challenged instead, as in referring to persons with physical disabilities as physically challenged. While this particular phrase is quite popular, it is sometimes taken to be condescending, and similar usages such as mentally challenged have failed to win equal acceptance. Indeed, the widespread parody of challenged in such expressions as electronically challenged for "inept at using computers" has effectively eliminated it as an all-purpose alternative to disabled or handicapped.