Sect Definition

sĕkt

sects

noun

sects

Any group of people having a common leadership, set of opinions, philosophical doctrine, political principles, etc., specif. a faction of a larger group.

Webster's New World

A religious body or denomination, esp. a small group that has broken away from an established church.

Webster's New World

A faction united by common interests or beliefs.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

abbreviation

Section.

Webster's New World

Sectional.

American Heritage Medicine

suffix

To cut; divide.

Trisect.

American Heritage

Cut; divided.

Transect.

American Heritage

affix

Cut, separated.

Pinnatisect.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Sect

Noun

Singular:

sect

Plural:

sects

Origin of Sect

From Middle English secte, from Old French secte (“a sect in philosophy or religion"), from Late Latin secta (“a sect in philosophy or religion, a school, party, faction, class, gild, band, particularly a heretical doctrine or sect, etc."), possibly, from Latin sequi (“to follow").

From Wiktionary
Middle English secte from Old French from Latin secta course, school of thought from feminine past participle of sequī to follow sekw-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin sectus past participle of secāre to cut sek- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition