Discipline \Dis`ci*pline\, n. [F. discipline, L. disciplina,
from discipulus. See Disciple.]
1. The treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education;
development of the faculties by instruction and exercise;
training, whether physical, mental, or moral.
Wife and children are a kind of discipline of
humanity. --Bacon.
Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the
substitution of good ones, especially those of
order, regularity, and obedience. --C. J. Smith.
2. Training to act in accordance with established rules;
accustoming to systematic and regular action; drill.
Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part,
Obey the rules and discipline of art. --Dryden.
3. Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control;
habit of obedience.
The most perfect, who have their passions in the
best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on
their guard. --Rogers.
4. Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by
means of misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc.
A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to
educate ?s. --Macaulay.
5. Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of
correction and training.
Giving her the discipline of the strap. --Addison.
6. The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge.
--Bp. Wilkins.
7. (Eccl.) The enforcement of methods of correction against
one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or
penal action toward a church member.
8. (R. C. Ch.) Self-inflicted and voluntary corporal
punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a
penitential scourge.
9. (Eccl.) A system of essential rules and duties; as, the
Romish or Anglican discipline.
Syn: Education; instruction; training; culture; correction;
chastisement; punishment.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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