disciple

views updated May 11 2018

dis·ci·ple / diˈsīpəl/ • n. a personal follower of Jesus during his life, esp. one of the twelve Apostles. ∎  a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosophy: a disciple of Rousseau.• v. [tr.] guide (someone) in becoming a follower of Jesus or another leader: the new believer was discipled by a missionary.DERIVATIVES: dis·ci·ple·ship / ship/ n.dis·cip·u·lar / -ˈsipyələr/ adj.ORIGIN: Old English, from Latin discipulus ‘learner,’ from discere ‘learn’; reinforced by Old French deciple.

disciple

views updated May 18 2018

disciple a personal follower of Christ during his life, especially one of the twelve Apostles (see also beloved disciple). The word is recorded from Old English, and comes from Latin discipulus ‘learner’, from discere learn.

disciple

views updated May 21 2018

disciple OE. discipul — L. discipulus learner, f. discere learn, rel. to docēre teach (see DOCTOR); reinforce in ME. by OF. deciple; later conformed to the L. sp.

disciple

views updated Jun 08 2018

disciple One of the followers of Jesus Christ during his life on earth, especially one of his 12 close personal associates. These 12 men were his first Apostles.