I. ˈdisəplə̇n, -ˌplin sometimes -splə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French discipline, descepline, from Latin disciplina, literally, teaching, instruction, alteration of discipulina, from discipulus pupil — more at disciple
1. obsolete : teaching , instruction , tutoring
2. : a subject that is taught : a branch of learning : field of study
such traditional disciplines as history, literature, political science — W.R.Steckel
3. : training or experience that corrects, molds, strengthens, or perfects especially the mental faculties or moral character
will submit willingly to severe discipline in order to acquire some coveted knowledge or skill — Bertrand Russell
the valuable intellectual discipline of close research into a limited topic
needs the discipline of hard work and early rising
to learn to dance is the most austere of disciplines — Havelock Ellis
4. : punishment: as
a. : chastisement self-inflicted as mortification or imposed as a penance or as a penalty
b. : an instrument of chastisement ; specifically : whip , scourge
c. : punishment by one in authority especially with a view to correction or training
schoolboys kept in line by floggings and other severe discipline
5.
a. : control gained by enforcing obedience or order (as in a school or army) : strict government to the end of effective action
maintained the strictest discipline in the barracks and the field
b. : behavior in accordance with the rules (as of an organization) : prompt and willing obedience to the orders of superiors : systematic, willing, and purposeful attention to the performance of assigned tasks : orderly conduct
commended the discipline of these veteran troops
lack of discipline was made plain by the students' listless, apathetic recitation
also : behavior (as of students or soldiers) regarded in terms of its conformity with an ideal or actual code or set of rules
poor discipline
good discipline
c. : conduct in accordance with a self-imposed rule or set of rules : self-control , self-restraint
with a remarkable discipline she avoided all reference to this incident in the pages of her diary
the sixty-six-pound free luggage allowance … forces me into a discipline in selecting what to take along — Richard Joseph
6. : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or action : system of regulation
in these revolutions the disciplines, such as food rationing, either collapsed or near-collapsed — Herbert Hoover
as
a. : a body of laws relating to conduct and church government : practical rules as distinguished from dogmatic formulations
to introduce the Presbyterian polity and discipline
b. : a body of purely ecclesiastical laws or practices that may be altered to meet new conditions
changes in the Roman Catholic discipline relating to fasting
7.
a. : an orderly or regular pattern of behavior
watching the discipline of the tides, with their evident rhythm — Clare Leighton
b. : method , approach
argued that the discipline of science differs from that of the humanities
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English disciplinen, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French discipliner, from Late Latin disciplinare, from disciplina
1. : to inflict suffering on or to penalize for the sake of discipline, regularity, order, or rule: as
a. : to whip or punish corporally in order to subjugate, mortify, or inflict penance on
saw a dozen wretched creatures disciplining themselves with whips
b. : to punish or penalize in any way often by infliction of extra tasks or by loss of privileges
cadets disciplined by confinement to quarters
c. : to inflict ecclesiastical censures and penalties upon
2. : to train by instruction or exercise (as for the performance of some task)
attention which modern education does not discipline the majority of our citizens to give — R.M.Weaver
endless practice … had disciplined his muscles and nerves into beautiful coordination — P.B.Sears
: train (the mental faculties) in habits of order, sobriety, and precision
a disciplined mind
a disciplined imagination
: make effective by restraint
so disciplines his writing as to make every word count — Coleman Rosenberger
3.
a. : to bring (a group) under control : govern strictly : train to habits of order : drill
poorly armed and disciplined troops
b. : to impose order or measure upon : bring into order
the enormous, confused, and unruly material has … been disciplined into a single coherent narrative — Walter Millis
Synonyms: see punish , teach