challenger English · revision 39942

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=before 1382|origins=la calumnia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈt͡ʃælɪn(d)ʒə/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈt͡ʃælənd͡ʒəɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|chalenger]], formed [[af|enm|chalengen|-er]], that is, [[challenge]] + [[-er]];^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)^(Dictionary.com 2016) Etymonline takes it from [[xno|chalengeour]] ([[m|fro|chalongeor|t=slanderer, petitioner, plaintiff]]), the agent noun of [[m|xno|chalengier]].^(Etymonline) That verb comes from [[la|calumnior|t=to accuse falsely]], from [[m|la|calumnia|t=trickery, false accusation]], the source of [[calumny]].^(AHD 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) In Anglo-Norman the verb meant to claim, to dispute and to challenge, and is recorded from 1121–25.^(AND)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An accuser, plaintiff or claimant: before 1382, in the Wycliffite Bible;^(OED 2026) Etymonline has "a claimant" from the late 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first challengers were people who made a claim or an accusation, following the legal senses of ''challenge''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 2026) In the mid 14th century the word meant someone who made false charges, and in the mid 15th century someone who disputed something, an objector.^(Etymonline) The sense "one who calls another to fight or to a contest" dates from 1511.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) gave this sense first, quoting ''As You Like It'', "he is the general challenger".^(Johnson 1755) The legal sense of accuser lasted until the 19th century.^(OED 2026) Merriam-Webster notes the special use for a contender for a championship, as in boxing.^(MWU 2024) Since 1983 ''Challenger'' has also named a second-tier men's professional tennis tournament.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 13th century – a claimant.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1382 – an accuser, a plaintiff.^(OED 2026)

+ * mid 14th century – one who makes false charges.^(Etymonline)

+ * mid 15th century – an objector.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1511 – one who calls another to a fight or contest.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1983 – (tennis) a second-tier tournament.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who [[challenge|alt=challenges]] another to a fight, [[contest]] or match.^(MWU 2024)^(Johnson 1755)

+ # A [[contender]] for a title or championship held by someone else: ''The young challenger lasted six rounds against the champion.''^(MWU 2024)^(OED 2026)

+ # Someone who competes for a position held by another, as in an [[election]] or a market.^(MWU 2024)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+ # (archaic) A claimant or accuser.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonchallenger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[challenge]]

+ * [[calumny]]

+ * [[contender]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}