disciple

[ dih-sahy-puhl ]

noun

1. a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower:

   a disciple of Freud.

2. Religion.
   1. one of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
   2. one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
   3. any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
3. any follower of Christ.
4. Disciple, a member of the Disciples of Christ.

verb (used with object)

, dis·ci·pled, dis·ci·pling.

1. Archaic. to convert into a disciple.
2. Obsolete. to teach; train.

disciple

/ dɪˈsaɪpəl; dɪˈsɪpjʊlə /

noun

1. a follower of the doctrines of a teacher or a school of thought
2. one of the personal followers of Christ (including his 12 apostles) during his earthly life

Derived Forms

• disˈcipleˌship, noun
• discipular, adjective

Other Words From

• dis·ci·ple·like adjective
• dis·ci·ple·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disciple¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin discipulus, equivalent to dis- dis- ¹ + -cip(ere), combining form of capere “to take” + -ulus -ule; replacing Middle English deciple, from Anglo-French de(s)ciple; replacing Old English discipul, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of disciple¹

Old English discipul, from Latin discipulus pupil, from discere to learn

Synonym Study

See pupil ¹.

Example Sentences

Studying Buddhism, I am a Shaolin disciple and there’s a Shaolin parable about Bodhidharma who migrated from India to China.

From Los Angeles Times

His disciple and renowned artist Laxman Shreshtha recounts in Naik’s book how MF Husain would often try to visit Gaitonde at his Delhi residence.

From BBC

Earlier this year, Springsteen has documented parts of his expansive musical career, appearing in the "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple" documentary.

From Salon

But Johnson is far more than a modest disciple of a 78-year-old demagogue who hawks his own sacrilegious version of Christianity's sacred text, nor is he just another Republican who swallows his unease over the racist invective in order to get lower corporate taxes.

From Salon

It should help Americans decide whether to trust their fate to Machiavelli’s disciple, this time seemingly unleashed by the Supreme Court.

From Salon

Related Words

• adherent
• apostle
• cohort
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fanatic
• learner
• pupil
• zealot