discipline

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin disciplina teaching, learning, from discipulus pupil Date: 13th century 1. punishment 2. obsolete instruction 3. a field of study 4. training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character 5. a. control gained by enforcing obedience or order b. orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c. self-control 6. a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity • disciplinal adjective II. transitive verb (-plined; -plining) Date: 14th century 1. to punish or penalize for the sake of discipline 2. to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control 3. a. to bring (a group) under control <

discipline troops

> b. to impose order upon <

serious writers discipline and refine their writing styles

> Synonyms: see punish, teach • discipliner noun