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

• discipular, adjective
• disˈcipleˌship, noun

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

Traditionally the successor to the Dalai Lama has been determined by a group of disciples close to the previous holder of the title, who seek the reborn person of the Dalai Lamai after his death.

From Washington Post

Bolling jokingly described some classical music disciples as “more royalist than the king when it comes to claiming a superiority over jazz.”

From Washington Post

It’s yet another lesson that Marshall Allen continues to impart to his many disciples.

From Washington Post

Members of the Azuza Street congregation believed that they had been given the same blessings as those received by the disciples of Jesus.

From No Straight News

Perry ultimately went straight to the top in Ukraine with his energy ­evangelism — and his favored disciples.

From ProPublica

Having a guru in a body does not necessarily help a disciple advance spiritually.

From The Daily Beast

Self-realized masters can get stern and even appear angry if a disciple openly manifests some undesirable character trait.

From The Daily Beast

The McConnell campaign has already launched attacks against the actress as too liberal, an Obama disciple, and anti-coal.

From The Daily Beast

“These n---as claim 300, but we BDK,” they chant, using gang shorthand for Black Disciple killers.

From The Daily Beast

The letters in the chorus “BDK” stand for Black Disciple Killer.

From The Daily Beast

So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

From Project Gutenberg

These words of our dying Lord were addressed to the beloved disciple St. John, but were intended for all mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

A disciple asked him what qualities a man must possess to entitle him to be called a scholar.

From Project Gutenberg

Anaximenes, the disciple of Thales, pursued his master's inquiries and adopted his method.

From Project Gutenberg

Here I met again constantly the great sportsman who had noticed me so kindly, and I became his follower, his disciple.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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