disciple

[ dih-sahy-puh l ]
/ dɪˈsaɪ pəl /

noun

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.
any follower of Christ.
(initial capital letter) a member of the Disciples of Christ.
a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower: a disciple of Freud.

verb (used with object), dis·ci·pled, dis·ci·pling.

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

Origin of disciple

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

SYNONYMS FOR disciple

4 See pupil1.

OTHER WORDS FROM disciple

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

Example sentences from the Web for disciples

British Dictionary definitions for disciples

disciple
/ (dɪˈsaɪpəl) /

noun

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

Derived forms of disciple

discipleship, noun discipular (dɪˈsɪpjʊlə), adjective

Word Origin for disciple

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

Cultural definitions for disciples

disciples

The followers of Jesus, who adhered to his teaching and transmitted it to others. The Twelve Apostles were the disciples closest to Jesus.

notes for disciples

In general, a disciple is an active follower of a leader or movement, religious or otherwise.