Middle English Dictionary Entry
disciplī̆ne n.
Entry Info
| Forms | disciplī̆ne n. Also discepline, dis(s)ipline, displin(e, dicipline, dissepleine. |
| Etymology | L disciplīna & OF descepline. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Eccl. Penitential chastisement, self-inflicted mortification of the flesh; also, an act of penance or mortification; nimen, taken ~, to suffer such chastisement, etc.
Associated quotations
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)125/29 : Apprehendite disciplinam..Nemeð discipline of alle ðe misdades ðe ȝe deð..mid faste..wake..wope and sare beriwsinge [etc.].
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)113/12 : Underlicȝe þeo þære hefeȝestan & þære stiðesten discepline [L gravissime discipline].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)80a : Ȝef þe seolf..a smeort discepline & drif..þet swete licunge in to smeortunge.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)113b : Ne neome ed eanes to luðere [Nero: ueole] disceplines temptaciuns forte acwenchen.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2345 : Of euerech Monek of þe hous he tok is discipline With a smart ȝeorde.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)119 : Þou schalt leorni þus a-wei forto caste Þi fole wille of þi flesch with swuche discipline.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)250/3 : Ine uestinges, ine wakiinges, ine dissiplines, and ine oþre dedes of uirtue.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.1055 : Thanne is discipline eek in knokkynge of thy brest, in scourgynge with yerdes, in knelynges.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23289 : Þai wald na disciplin [Göt: dissipline; Phys-E: dicipline; Trin-C: scourgyng] Thole for luue of vr drightin.
- a1400(c1340) Rolle Psalter (Hat 12)prol.6/60 : Þare in es descrived..þe disciplyne of penaunce.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)7/32 : Yef any sal take discipline, gruching sal sho make nane.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2091 : Thei take her disciplines deuoutly praying.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)512 : A frere hadde I-trespased & for þat ilke sake a dissiplyne he cholde habbe.
- a1450 SLeg.Fran.(2) (Bod 779)516 : Þe frere nolde for his gilt þe displyne ondirfo.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.11 : Disciplyne of silence is goed.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)44/5 : He made þe couent..to ȝeue hym dysplyn [vr. dysyplyn] apon his bare backe wyth a scharpe ȝerde.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)76/13 : Let be ioyned to hym yche Friday xv dissiplynes.
2.
(a) Chastisement for moral correction of another; moral teaching or discipline; (b) punishment.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)17.39 : And þy discipline [L disciplina] amended me on ende, and þy discipline onlich shal teche me.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)22.5 : Þy discipline [L virga] and þyn amendyng conforted me.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.12.5 : My sone, nyle thou dispise the disciplyn [WB(2): teching] of the Lord, nether be thou maad wery, the while thou art chastysid of hym.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6731 : This Maiden..hadde be..Under hir moder discipline A clene Maide and a Virgine.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5556 : Sons and doghters þat unchastyd war..sal..In defaut of his [a father's] disciplyne..be dampned til helle pyne.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5878 : Þe wande..of disciplyne smert Sal chace foly out of þe childes hert.
- ?c1430(a1400) Wycl.Wedded Men (Corp-C 296)194 : Ȝe fadris, nyle ȝe stire ȝoure children to wraþþe, but norische hem and brynge hem forþ in disciplyne, or lore, and chastisynge of God.
- (1434) Misyn ML (Corp-O 236)112/32-3 : Qwhat is disciplyne bot settyng of maners or correctynge?..be disciplyne we ar taght rightwysnes, & of ill correctyd.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)17.117 : My grete veniaunce & my gret discipline, With my strengthe to ȝow it schal propine.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)447 : O Iesu'..Brydel myn outrage vnder thy disciplyne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)22.5 : Thi wand, that is thi light discyplyne that chasties me as thi sun.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5326 : This sterne king..Tok every day on of the Nyne, And put him to the discipline Of Minotaure, to be devoured.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)871 : If a knyght offende, At his precepte he was put to juesse By the trybune..His cure it was tordeyn, and disciplyne Vnto euery man, seuerous or benygne.
3.
(a) Moral conduct; a system of ordered conduct or monastic discipline; (b) a regulation; (c) a regimen prescribed by a physician.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)2.12 : Take disciplin, þat our Lord wraþ noȝt, and þat ȝe peris noȝt out of þe ryȝt waie.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)118.66 : Teche me godenes, discipline, and tuninge [read: cuninge].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.942 : Thou [Pauline] art of his [Anubus's] discipline So holy, that no mannes myht Mai do that he hath do to nyht.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271b/b : Among hem [bees] is wonder obseruaunce of discipline..ffor þey..takeþ heede of hem þat worcheþ nouȝt and chasteþ hem anoon.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4391 : Oure techis haue we schawid, Oure dedis & of oure disciplyne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)2.12 : Apprehendite disciplinam..takis disciplyne, that is, haldis goed lyf and fayre conuersacioun, and ordene amendment of ȝoure maners.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)26.17 : Legem pone michi domine in via tua..sett til me laghe of charite and discyplyne, that is suffre me noght to erre in thi way.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)37/7,26,30 : Deuoute breþren & wel manerd & under discipline..The religiose man þat is wiþoute discipline is open to a greuous falle..religiose men þat are streited under claustral discipline.
b
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)39/26 : Man sal muster him alle þe disciplines of þe reule.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.2572 : Ageyn siknesse men..Serche in phesik sundri disciplynes Them to diete in ther transgressiouns.
4.
Instruction, teaching, schooling; haven under ~, to have (sb.) under (one's) control.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1570 : Word hath under his discipline Of Sorcerie the karectes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4792 : Right nought am I thurgh youre doctrine. I dulle under youre discipline.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)22/6 : In holy-dayes es gude to a-byde in praer..and to gude discipline and doctrine.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2773 : The maryners..haue al this art Of wydiringe..By discipline of it ha thei no part, But of a longe vsage or exercise.
5.
(a) Learning, knowledge; (b) a branch of learning, a science, a craft.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.3.4 : Thou shalt finde grace and good discipline [WB(2): teching; L disciplinam] befor God and men.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Tim.2.23 : Forsoth schonye thou foltische questiouns, and withoute disciplyne [WB(2): kunnyng; L disciplina], witynge for thei gendren chidingis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)40a/a : He þat haþ suche a brayne is swifte & good of disciplyne of lore.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1253 : Another day assaye in myn absence This disciplyne and this crafty science.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285a/a : Elephantes..kepeþ lore and discipline of þe sterres.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5143 : Hercules thoruh knyhtli disciplyne Profitid so..That from all othre he bar awey the pris.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.KEng.(1) (Hrl 372)200 : The Fifte Herry..Gretly expert in marcial disciplyne [vr. dyssepleyne].