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
- present participle of challenge; Difficult, hard...
Ancestry of “challenging”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | chalengynge | Slander, defamation; the propagation of untrue and unflattering claims |
| 2 | Middle English | chalengen | To insult, criticise, or reprehend something or... |
| 3 | Old French | chalengier | Alternative form of chalongier |
| 4 | Latin | calumnior | I depreciate, misrepresent, cavil at, calumniate,... |
| 5 | Latin | calumnia | A cunning device, trickery, artifice, sophistry,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kalwomniā | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | kalwomnos | deceiving, accusing |