sectarian
UK[sekˈteə.ri.ən]US[sekˈter.i.ən]
adj
relating to a sect or sects, especially in a narrow-minded or rigid way.
n
a member of a sect, especially one who is rigidly devoted to its doctrines.
Morpheme Breakdown
sect
arian
sect
group
arian
adherent of
Etymology
the word 'sectarian' is built upon the latin root secta, which originally described a philosophical school or a course of action one follows. the suffix -arian attaches to nouns to form adjectives and nouns indicating association or belief. historically, a 'sect' was a group distinguished by specific doctrines from a larger body, often a religious one. over time, 'sectarian' evolved from a neutral descriptor of affiliation to carry a strong connotation of excessive attachment to the doctrines and interests of one's own group, implying narrow-mindedness and opposition to others.
Analysis
Structure: sect (group) + arian (adherent of)
sect (from latin secta, meaning 'a following, faction, school of thought', from sequi 'to follow'); arian (a suffix forming nouns and adjectives, from latin -arius, denoting 'belonging to, connected with').
Examples
the conflict was driven by deep-seated sectarian violence.
he was criticized for his sectarian views, which refused to acknowledge any other perspective.
the political party aimed to rise above sectarian interests and govern for the whole country.