challenge: [13] The original notion contained in challenge in English was of ‘accusation’. The word comes, via Old French chalenge or calenge, from Latin calumnia ‘false charge, deception’ (source of English calumny [15]). By the early 14th century, the modern, more neutral sense of ‘inviting to a contest’ had emerged, however, and before the end of the 17th century the word’s accusatory connotations had virtually died out.
Latin calumnia probably came from the verb calvī ‘deceive’. This may, via an unrecorded intermediary *calvilla, be related to Latin cavilla ‘raillery’, whose derived verb cavillārī was the source of English cavil [16]. => calumny
challenge (n.)
early 14c., "something one can be accused of, a fault, blemish;" mid-14c., "false accusation, malicious charge; accusation of wrong-doing," also "act of laying claim" (to something), from Anglo-French chalenge, Old French chalonge "calumny, slander; demand, opposition," in legal use, "accusation, claim, dispute," from Anglo-French chalengier, Old French chalongier "to accuse, to dispute" (see challenge (v.)). Accusatory connotations died out 17c. Meanings "an objection" in law, etc.; "a calling to fight" are from mid-15c. Meaning "difficult task" is from 1954.
challenge (v.)
c. 1200, "to rebuke," from Old French chalongier "complain, protest; haggle, quibble," from Vulgar Latin calumniare "to accuse falsely," from Latin calumniari "to accuse falsely, misrepresent, slander," from calumnia "trickery" (see calumny).
From late 13c. as "to object to, take exception to;" c. 1300 as "to accuse," especially "to accuse falsely," also "to call to account;" late 14c. as "to call to fight." Also used in Middle English with sense "claim, take to oneself." Related: Challenged; challenging.
雙語例句
1. They rose to the challenge of entertaining 80 school-children for an afternoon.
他們一個下午成功接待了80名學童。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Online gaming allows players from around the world to challenge each other.
網絡遊戲使得全球的玩家可以相互較量。
來自柯林斯例句
3. This challenge will occupy Europe for a generation or more.
這將是歐洲在未來二三十年或者更長的時間裏所要麵臨的挑戰。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The new Germany must rise to the challenge of its enhanced responsibilities.
一個嶄新的德國必須迎接挑戰，承擔更多的責任。
來自柯林斯例句
5. He said he's game for a similar challenge next year.