Table of Contents
The word for today is…
discipline (noun, verb):
noun
1a: control gained by enforcing obedience or order
b: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior
c: self-control
2: punishment
3: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
4: a field of study
5: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity
6 obsolete : instruction
verb
1: to punish or penalize for the sake of enforcing obedience and perfecting moral character
2: to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control
3a: to bring (a group) under control
b: to impose order upon
Source : Merriam -Webster
Etymology : Discipline comes from discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple (albeit by way of a Late Latin sense-shift to “a follower of Jesus Christ in his lifetime”). Given that several meanings of discipline deal with study, governing one’s behavior, and instruction, one might assume that the word’s first meaning in English had to do with education. In fact, the earliest known use of discipline appears to be punishment-related; it first was used in the 13th century to refer to chastisement of a religious nature, such as self-flagellation.
If you enjoyed this Good Oil word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.
