sect
UK[sɛkt]US[sɛkt]
n
A religious or political group that has separated from a larger group and has its own distinct set of beliefs.
Morpheme Breakdown
sect
sect
follow, cut
Etymology
The word 'sect' entered English in the 14th century via Old French 'secte', which itself originated from Latin 'secta', meaning 'a following' or 'a school of thought'. The Latin term is derived from the verb 'sequi' ('to follow'), with 'secta' being the feminine past participle, essentially meaning 'a way followed'. An alternative, influential etymology connects it to 'secare' ('to cut'), suggesting the idea of a group cut off from a main body. This dual heritage—from 'follow' and 'cut'—perfectly encapsulates the modern meaning: a group defined by its adherence to a specific set of doctrines and its separation from a larger, orthodox body.
Analysis
Structure: sect (follow, cut)
The morpheme 'sect' is derived from Latin, meaning 'followed' or 'cut'. In this word, it functions as the core root, carrying the combined senses of a group that follows a specific doctrine or one that is cut off/seceded.
Examples
The small religious sect lived in a secluded community.
Historians studied the various philosophical sects of ancient Greece.
The political party fractured, giving rise to a radical sect.