Origin:

Middle English: from Anglo-Latin bondagium, from Middle English bond 'serf' (earlier 'peasant, householder'), from Old Norse bóndi 'tiller of the soil', based on búa 'dwell'; influenced in sense by bond

noun

• 1 [mass noun] the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience:a lack of proper parental and school discipline
• the controlled behaviour resulting from such training:he was able to maintain discipline among his men
• activity that provides mental or physical training:the tariqa offered spiritual discipline [count noun]:Kung fu is a discipline open to old and young
• [count noun] a system of rules of conduct:he doesn’t have to submit to normal disciplines

• 2a branch of knowledge, typically one studied in higher education:sociology is a fairly new discipline

verb

[with object]

• train (someone) to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience:many parents have been afraid to discipline their children
• punish or rebuke formally for an offence:a member of staff was to be disciplined by management
• (discipline oneself to do something) train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way:every month discipline yourself to go through the file

noun

[mass noun]

• the tendency to derive pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others: beneath the apparent loving concern she had glimpsed spite and sadism

noun

[mass noun]

• the tendency to derive sexual gratification from one’s own pain or humiliation: with things such as bondage and masochism, it’s all right if you both go for it
• (in general use) the enjoyment of an activity that appears to be painful or tedious:there’s plenty to do when the weather turns moorland walks into exercises in masochism