discipline

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Training to act in accordance with established rules; accustoming to systematic and regular action; drill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part,
Obey the rules and discipline of art. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control; habit of obedience. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by means of misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to educate us. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training. [ 1913 Webster ]

Giving her the discipline of the strap. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Eccl.) The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church member. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (R. C. Ch.) Self-inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance, or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Eccl.) A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or Anglican discipline.

Syn. -- Education; instruction; training; culture; correction; chastisement; punishment. [ 1913 Webster ]