discipline

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of punishing

   the offenders deserved the harsh discipline they received

2. 2
   noun

   the trait of being well behaved

   I insisted on discipline among the troops.

3. 3
   noun

   a system of rules of conduct or method of practice

   They quickly learned the discipline of prison routine.

4. 4
   noun

   a branch of knowledge

   In what discipline is your doctorate?

5. 5
   verb

   punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience

   The teacher disciplined the pupils rather frequently

6. 6
   noun

   A controlled behaviour; self-control.

   The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard.

7. 7
   noun

   A specific branch of knowledge, learning, or practice.

   Near-synonyms: specialty, speciality, specialism

8. 8
   noun

   training to improve strength or self-control

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Anglo-Norman, from Old French descipline, from Latin disciplina (“instruction”), from discipulus (“pupil”), influenced by disco (“to learn”), from Proto-Indo-European *dek- (“(cause to) accept”).