What Latin word does discipline come from?

English word discipline comes from Latin disciplina (discipline), ultimately form Latin discipulus (student, pupil, disciple)

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What Latin word does discipline come from?

In the almost-six years that I’ve sustained a daily fitness practice, one of the most frequent comments I’ve heard is:

You are so disciplined. I’m not that disciplined to sustain a daily practice.

Where does discipline come from, and how can you get it?

According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary modern definitions of discipline include

  • control gained by enforcing obedience or order
  • orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior
  • self-control

We typically use discipline to mean the effort required to do the things we know we should do, but that we don’t really want to do, or that we lack the energy to do.

It’s no wonder that we struggle to find discipline for those things.

Here’s where discipline comes from:

The word discipline comes from the Latin disciplina, which means “instruction given, teaching, learning, knowledge,” also “object of instruction, knowledge, science, military discipline.” It is also related to discipulus “pupil, student, follower”, which is a pre-cursor to disciple.

The root is discere, which means to learn.

This is where discipline comes from.

Not from self-punishment, but from self-education.

When you stay connected to the benefits of the activity and what you enjoy about it, and when you view it as an opportunity to learn something new, you find your “discipline.”

Please share: How does this change your view on the things you believe you need more discipline to do?

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "chastisement, system of ordered conduct, instruction, branch of learning," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin disciplīna "teaching, instruction, branch of study, orderly conduct based on moral training" (Medieval Latin, "chastisement, scourging"), from discipulus "pupil, learner" + -īna, suffix denoting a place or practice (from noun derivative of feminine of -īnus -ine entry 1) — more at disciple

Verb

Middle English disciplinen "to subject to chastisement, educate," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discipliner, borrowed from Late Latin disciplīnāre "to teach" (Medieval Latin, "to punish, scourge"), derivative of Latin disciplīna "teaching, discipline entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of discipline was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century


Page 2

Discipline. One word… thousands of opinions.

Is it punishment? Is it obedience?Is it rules? Is it enforcement?Is it always doing the same thing? Is it always doing the right thing?Is it consistency? Is it doing what you’re told?Is it rigid? Is it boring?

Do you even get a choice? Do you just comply?

To understand what discipline really is and what it really means, let’s look at the origin of the word to find its intent and true form.

The root word of discipline is “disciple,” which comes from the Latin word discipulus meaning “student.” Most people believe a disciple is a “follower” (probably because of the religious context), but in reality it means student—as in, “one who studies.”

The word “discipline” is from the Latin word disciplina, meaning “instruction and training.” It is derived from the root word discere—”to learn.”

So what is discipline?

Discipline is to study, learn, train, and apply a system of standards.

What isn’t discipline?

Discipline is not rules, regulations, or punishment. It is not compliance, obedience, or enforcement. It is not rigid, boring, or always doing the same thing.

Discipline is not something others do to you. It is something you do for yourself. You can receive instruction or guidance from one or many sources, but the source of discipline is not external. It is internal.

Discipline is not obedience to someone else’s standards to avoid punishment. It is learning and applying intentional standards to achieve meaningful objectives.

Discipline is a choice… your choice. It is a decision.
Better yet, all of your decisions.

The distinction between discipline being an external dynamic or an internal dynamic, a mandatory rule or a personal choice, is important. Understanding this at a deeper level is your gateway into a better, more discipline-driven life.

Do you see how it works?

When you understand discipline as a choice, you are in control—not anyone or anything else. More discipline, more choice, more control. Less discipline, less choice, less control.

Let’s use a common example…

I want to get up at 4:45am and workout. I have a four month-old son who usually wakes up at 6:00am and, like all babies, needs a lot of time and attention. I have to take care of him, make coffee, get myself ready, and leave for work by 7:30am.

So I need to workout before he wakes up… hence the 4:45am alarm.

My alarm goes off, I choose discipline, get up, workout, wake up my son, love on him, and leave for work. My first win of the day is in the books and my mind is clear to focus on my next priorities knowing my workout is done and I don’t have to “find the time” to make it up later. I’m in control of me and my day. I can even splurge a little at lunch or dinner because I worked out hard. I burned so I earned.

But what if I don’t choose discipline?

My alarm goes off, I choose default, sleep in, wake up my son, still love on him, and leave for work. I’m mentally and emotionally disappointed in myself because I should have gotten up and worked out. My mind is searching for when I can make it up. Tonight? Too busy, too late, too tired. Tomorrow? It was supposed to be my off day. Now I’m disappointed and distracted. I’m not in control of me or my day. I’m stressed and irritated, my discipline fades even further, so I make impulsive eating decisions at lunch and dinner because I’m already having an off-day. Might as well have be consistent.

Sound familiar?

The two scenarios described above translate to any scenario in any environment. When we maintain our own personal discipline, our choice, we retain control of ourselves and how we move through our environments.

When we lose our personal discipline, also our choice, we give control away to other people, external circumstances, and the inevitable randomness of life. We drift and become the plaything of circumstances (Viktor Frankl—”Man’s Search for Meaning”).

More discipline, more choice, more control. Better options. Higher standards. Improved skill. More flexibility.

Less discipline, less choice, less control. Fewer options. Lower standards. Inadequate skill. Less flexibility.

Go test this deeper understanding of discipline, what it is, how it works, and why it works. Observe yourself throughout the day. Observe other people. Measure these words against what you observe. Get out in the field and do the work.

  • A controlled behaviour; self-control.
    • a. 1729, John Rogers, The Difficulties of Obtaining Salvation The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are yet obliged to be constantly on their guard.
    1. An enforced compliance or control.
      • 1956, Michael Arlen, “1/1/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days‎[1]:

        The masters looked unusually stern, but it was the sternness of thought rather than of discipline.

    2. A systematic method of obtaining obedience.
      • 1871, Charles John Smith, Synonyms Discriminated Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience.
      • 1973, Bible (New International Version), Hebrews 12:7: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
    3. A state of order based on submission to authority.
      • 1697, Virgil, “The Second Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. [], London: [] Jacob Tonson, [], OCLC 403869432:

        Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part, / Obey the rules and discipline of art.
    4. A set of rules regulating behaviour.
    5. A punishment to train or maintain control.
      • 1712 October 13 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison; Richard Steele, “THURSDAY, October 2, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 499; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, [], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, OCLC 191120697:

        giving her the discipline of the strap
  • A specific branch of knowledge or learning.
    • 2013 August 3, “Boundary problems”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:

      Economics is a messy discipline: too fluid to be a science, too rigorous to be an art.

    • 1648, John Wilkins, Mathematical Magick:

      This mathematical discipline, by the help of geometrical principles, doth teach to contrive several weights and powers unto motion or rest.

    1. A category in which a certain art, sport or other activity belongs.