SECT

sect, religious sect, religious order

(noun) a subdivision of a larger religious group

faction, sect

(noun) a dissenting clique

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

sect (plural sects)

An offshoot of a larger religion; a group sharing particular (often unorthodox) political and/or religious beliefs.

A group following a specific ideal or a leader.

(obsolete) A cutting; a scion.

Hypernyms

• religion

Hyponyms

• denomination

Anagrams

• 'tecs, CEST, CTEs, ECTS, ETCS, Stec, TCEs, TECs, cest

Source: Wiktionary

Sect, n. Etym: [L. secare, sectum, to cut.]

Definition: A cutting; a scion. [Obs.] Shak.

Sect, n. Etym: [F. secte, L. sects, fr. sequi to follew; often confused with L. secare, sectum, to cut. See Sue to follow, and cf. Sept, Suit, n.]

Definition: Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance distinct from others; in religion, the believers in a particular creed, or upholders of a particular practice; especially, in modern times, a party dissenting from an established church; a denomination; in philosophy, the disciples of a particular master; a school; in society and the state, an order, rank, class, or party. He beareth the sign of poverty, And in that sect our Savior saved all mankind. Piers Plowman. As of the sect of which that he was born, He kept his lay, to which that he was sworn. Chaucer. The cursed sect of that detestable and false prophet Mohammed. Fabyan. As concerning this sect [Christians], we know that everywhere it is spoken against. Acts xxviii. 22.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition