discipline

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɪsɪplɪn/ (UK); /ˈdɪsəplɪn/, /ˈdɪsəplən/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English, borrowed from Old French descepline (“discipline, physical punishment; teaching”) and directly disciplīna (“instruction, teaching, knowledge”),^[2][3][4] from discipulus (“pupil, follower”) (see disciple).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Penitential chastisement, punishment for correction: about 1200 in Etymonline;^[2] NODE has mortification by scourging oneself.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Etymonline explains the punishing sense through the idea of the order needed for instruction.^[2] A system of rules is from the mid-14th century, and teaching or learning from 1382.^[2][6] A branch of learning is from the late 14th century, about 1386 in the OED.^[2][6] Training in proper conduct is from 1434, and military drill from the late 15th century, 1489 in the OED;^[6][2] orderly conduct as a result of training is from about 1500.^[2] The rules governing a church are from the 1570s.^[2] The verb, to punish, is from about 1300, and to train or educate from the late 14th century.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – penitential chastisement.^[2]
• c. 1300 – the verb, to punish.^[2]
• 1382 – teaching.^[6]
• c. 1386 – a branch of learning.^[6]
• 1489 – military drill.^[6]
• 1570s – church discipline.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The practice of training people to obey rules, using punishment to correct disobedience.
2. Controlled and orderly behaviour; self-control.
3. A branch of knowledge, especially one studied at a university.
4. Punishment intended to correct.

Verb

1. To train by instruction and practice, especially in self-control.
2. To punish or penalize.

Word family

• disciplinal
• discipliner
• indiscipline
• multidiscipline
• self-discipline
• subdiscipline
• overdiscipline
• rediscipline

Related words

• disciple
• disciplinarian
• disciplinary
• interdisciplinary
• multidisciplinary
• disciplined
• disciplinable
• docile

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press