dis-, di-, dif-

A preference for partial nudity during sex or for being partly dressed.

1. Someone who follows or attends upon another for the purpose of learning from him; a pupil or scholar.
2. One of the personal followers of Jesus Christ during his life; especially, one of the Twelve Disciples.
3. Also applied in the New Testament to the early Christians generally; hence, in religious use, a professed follower of Christ, a Christian, or a believer.
4. A person who follows, or is influenced by, the doctrine or example of another person; one who belongs to the "school" of any leader of thought.
5. Someone who strongly believes in the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion, and is loyal to the group of his or her choice.

Discipline, the guardian of the state.

Motto of the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.

Translation: "By discipline, fidelity, and perseverance."

A motto of fortitude and steadfastness.

1. Someone who insists that rules are obeyed strictly, and who punishes people who break them.
2. Anyone who enforces discipline (in an army, school, family, etc.).
3. An upholder or advocate of strict discipline.

The process of enforcing rules and behavior in an army, a school, a family, etc.

Relating to the enforcing of rules and the punishing of people who break them: "The captain took disciplinary action against the troops who got drunk and were involved in a fight with civilians at a local bar."

1. The practice or methods of ensuring that people obey rules by teaching them to do so and punishing them if they do not.
2. A controlled orderly state; especially, in a class of school children.
3. The ability to behave in a controlled and calm way even in a difficult or stressful situation.
4. Mental self-control used in directing or changing behavior, learning something, or training for something.
5. A branch of instruction or education; a department of learning or knowledge; a science or art in its educational aspect; a subject or field or activity, e.g., an academic subject.
6. Instruction having for its aim to form the pupil to proper conduct and action; the training of scholars or subordinates to proper and orderly action by instructing and exercising them in the same; mental and moral training; also used figuratively of the training effect of experience, adversity, etc.
7. The order maintained and observed among pupils, or other persons under control or command; such as, soldiers, sailors, the inmates of a religious house, a prison, etc.
8. Etymology: from Latin discipulus, "pupil", from discipere, "to grasp intellectually, to analyze thoroughly"; from dis-, "apart" + capere, "to take".

1. To punish someone as a way of making sure that certain rules or orders are obeyed: The soldier was being disciplined for not following the commands of his captain.
2. To train oneself to do something by controlling his or her behavior: Sharon said that she was disciplining herself to eat less and to exercise more often.

The students were determined to discipline themselves by learning at least five new vocabulary words each day and to have the highest scores on the weekly tests that will include those words.

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Relating to showing orderliness and control in the way something is done or someone behaves: Joe has an orderly and disciplined mind.

Henry has a more disciplined approach to the problem than the other members of the group.

1. A person who subjects others to obey the rules: Sally was a discipliner who was teaching participants by instruction and exercise; especially, in self-control.
2. Those who promote systems of behavior: Military units have many discipliners or instructors who work with troops to develop co-ordinated behavior and skills for their assigned duties.

Of, belonging to, or of the nature of, a disciple: "He had discipular patience and determination to fulfill what was expected of him."

Training to be a disciple; striving for discipleship: "He was determined to be discipulated or trained for the priesthood after years of living an undisciplined life."

"The religious group sent out their disciples to discipulate others so they, too, could live the good life of religious devotion to God."

1. To renounce or to withdraw a legal position on an issue: Jason decided to disclaim his request through the courts that the city pave his driveway.
2. To refuse to admit something believed by another individual or to reject authority: Students were disclaiming the expectations of the campus authority, determined to decide for themselves if they would go to class on Saturday or not.

Despite the testimony of the eyewitness, Mark disclaimed any responsibility for the accident that took place on the highway.

Has Bill Gates disclaimed that he is the wealthiest person in the world?

1. A statement which is meant to prevent an incorrect understanding of something; such as, a movie, a book, or an advertisement: The documentary on TV started with a disclaimer that any of its presentations are fictional re-creations of real events.

During the re-election campaign, the President made public disclaimers about not wanting to increase taxes; however, the voters were not convinced.

2. A repudiation or denial of any responsibility or connection to something: The book had a disclaimer that stated: "Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental".
3. A denial or giving up of any legal responsibility; such as, a statement that is made by an individual or an institution: Before using the swimming pool for an Aqua Fit program, the residents of the condominium were asked to sign a disclaimer with the management in case an accident should occur.