Etymologically
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discipline

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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
  • 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