Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “challenging” come from?

Challenging comes from Middle English chalengyng, formed from the Middle English verb challenge plus the Old English suffix -ing, ultimately derived from Latin calumnia meaning false accusation or slander.

challenging (English): present participle of challenge; Difficult, hard...

Definitions

  1. present participle of challenge; Difficult, hard...

Ancestry of “challenging”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishchalengynge—
2Middle EnglishchalengenTo insult, criticise, or reprehend something or...
3Old FrenchchalengierAlternative form of chalongier
4LatincalumniorI depreciate, misrepresent, cavil at, calumniate,...
5LatincalumniaA cunning device, trickery, artifice, sophistry,...
6Proto-Italickalwomniā—
7Proto-Italickalwomnosdeceiving, accusing

Words derived from “challenging”

  • challengingly
  • unchallenging
  • nonchallenging
  • unchallengingly
  • challengingness
Every word from Proto-Italic kalwomnos →