Agency Dictionary
Discipline
nounPronunciation: /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪn/
In Portuguese: Disciplina
Psychology & Mind
Creativity & LearningWhat does “Discipline” mean?
The practice of training one's mind and habits to adhere to rules, duties, and self-restraint.
Etymology
From Old French descepline, from Latin disciplina, "teaching, instruction, training", derived from discipulus ("pupil"), which is linked to discere ("to learn"). The earliest English uses, in the early Middle English period, were religious: the punishment or mortification imposed for the sake of correction. The senses of a branch of learning, of orderly conduct produced by training and of control over oneself developed later from the idea of what is taught to a pupil.
Usage note
The spelling keeps the silent c of the Latin word. As a verb, to discipline usually means to punish; the positive sense of trained self-control lives mostly in the noun and in the adjective disciplined.
Synonyms
- self-control
- self-restraint
- training
- rigour
- order
- regimen
Word family
- disciple
- disciplinary
- disciplined
- disciplinarian
- self-discipline
- undisciplined
Usage examples
Because losing, missing a shot, or acknowledging you are wrong is life’s way of teaching us discipline.
Concepts
- Emotional GuiltEmotional guilt is an internal psychological state arising from the awareness that one has violated a personal moral standard, caused harm to another, or failed in an…
- Self-ExaminationSelf-examination is the systematic practice of reflecting upon one's own thoughts, motives, moral conduct, and unconscious assumptions. Originating in Socratic ethics, it…
- SolitudeSolitude is the subjective state of being alone without feeling lonely, functioning as a deliberate environment for contemplation, creative focus, and self-discovery…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- vocationnoun
- A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Resiliencenoun
- The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
- Abyssnoun
- A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
- Affectnoun
- An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
- Amalgamationnoun
- The process of combining or uniting multiple distinct elements, genres, or organizations into a single coherent body. In music, it describes fusion between traditions.
- Anesthetizeverb
- To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
- anesthetizedadjective
- Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
Also from these editions: terms
- Adversitynoun
- A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
- Blissnoun
- A state of supreme happiness, utter contentment, or serene, untroubled joy.
- Humbleadjective
- Having or showing a modest, unpretentious estimate of one's own importance and achievements.
- Myopianoun
- A visual condition of nearsightedness, used figuratively for narrow-mindedness and lack of long-term foresight.
- Narcissismnoun
- Excessive self-love, self-admiration, and egocentric preoccupation with one's own desires and social status.
- Objectiveadjective
- Based on factual evidence and observable reality rather than personal feelings, biases, or interpretations.
- Opioidnoun
- A substance that acts on nervous system receptors to numb pain, often used metaphorically for emotional desensitization.
- Seppukunoun
- A ritual suicide practiced by Japanese samurai to preserve honor, fulfill duty, or atone for a severe failing.
- Sincereadjective
- Free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy; genuine, honest, and heartfelt in feeling or intent.
- Statuenoun
- A carved or cast three-dimensional sculpture of a person or animal, often used metaphorically for rigidity.
- Fraternitynoun
- A spirit of brotherly solidarity, mutual goodwill, and shared support among individuals or groups.
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