discipline

n. & v.
—n.
1 a control or order exercised over people or animals, esp. children, prisoners, military personnel, church members, etc. b the system of rules used to maintain this control. c the behaviour of groups subjected to such rules (poor discipline in the ranks).
2 a mental, moral, or physical training. b adversity as used to bring about such training (left the course because he couldn't take the discipline).
3 a branch of instruction or learning (philosophy is a hard discipline).
4 punishment.
5 Eccl. mortification by physical self-punishment, esp. scourging.
—v.tr.
1 punish, chastise.
2 bring under control by training in obedience; drill.
Derivatives:
disciplinable adj. disciplinal adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF discipliner or LL & med.L disciplinare, disciplina f. discipulus DISCIPLE