An archaic term meaning to challenge or dispute something.
From Old English 'alengan,' combining 'a-' (prefix meaning 'to') and 'leng' (to lengthen or extend). Over time, it evolved to mean stretching an argument or challenging someone's claim.
This word nearly disappeared from English, but you can still see its DNA in modern 'challenge'—they both come from the same root meaning 'to extend or stretch out your disagreement.'
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