disciple

UK: /dɪˈsaɪp^əl/ US: /dɪˈsaɪpəl/ ,(di sī′pəl)

Inflections of 'disciple' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

disciples

v 3rd person singular

discipling

v pres p

discipled

v past

discipled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ci•ple /dɪˈsaɪpəl/   n. [countable]

1. Religion one of the 12 apostles of Christ.
2. Religion a pupil or follower of another:
   a disciple of Freud.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ci•ple  (di sī′pəl), n., v., -pled, -pling. 
n. 

1. Religion
   • one of the 12 personal followers of Christ.
   • one of the 70 followers sent forth by Christ. Luke 10:1.
   • any other professed follower of Christ in His lifetime.
2. Religion any follower of Christ.
3. Religion (cap.) a member of the Disciples of Christ.
4. Religion a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another;
   follower:
   a disciple of Freud.

v.t. 

5. [Archaic.] to convert into a disciple.
6. [Obs.] to teach;
   train.

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

dis•ci′ple•like′, adj. 
dis•ci′ple•ship′, n. 
Synonyms

• 4. See pupil ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disciple / dɪˈsaɪp^əl/ 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

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

disˈcipleˌship noun

discipular / dɪˈsɪpjʊlə/ adjective