Fluke said his Georgetown classmates were „rightly angry that the comments call into question both his character and mine.“ Cruz responded defensively that he had „not challenged [Hagel`s] character.“ If you object, you risk repugnant belligerence. Simply put, you risk offending someone to the point where he or she wants to put on you. The martial implications of „contest“ are to be expected in a word derived from the Latin verb pugnare, which means „to fight“. In its earliest known English usage in the 1300s, „impugn“ could refer to a physical attack (as in „the troops fought the city“), as well as figurative attacks involving verbal contradictions or arguments. Over time, however, the feeling of physical struggle became obsolete and the feeling of „questioning“ prevailed. Not surprisingly, „pugnare“ also gave English other fighting words, including „repugnant“ and „belligerence.“ However, they would not give in; They considered my reasons childlike sentimentality, and half questioned my courage. The old man was very outraged that his honor was being challenged in this way. If the registration were generally received by a nation, the burden in this case would fall on those who challenged it. „The senator challenged the motives and behavior of our colleague“ For as it is the eternal truth of the eternal God, he will triumph one day, no matter how he is challenged for a time.

The judge did not engage in this spirit of madness and did not even appreciate that a healthy medical association was challenged in this way. Middle English, from Anglo-French empugner, from Latin inpugnare, from in- + pugnare to fight – more to sharp These sample sentences are automatically selected from various online news sources to reflect the current use of the word „contest“. The views expressed in the examples do not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. To challenge is to raise doubts or question the truth or validity or something or someone`s character or opinion. Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP.