secta

1.

secta, ae, f. [ part. perf. of seco, sc. via, v. seco, I. C. 2., and II. B. fin. ]; prop., a trodden or beaten way, a path; footsteps; hence, trop., a (prescribed) way, mode, manner, method, principles of conduct or procedure (syn.: ratio, via, etc.); most freq. in the phrase sectam (alicujus) sequi (persequi, etc.), to follow in the footsteps (of any one); hence, also, sectam (alicujus) secuti, a party, faction, sect.

I.

In gen.:

nos, qui hanc sectam rationemque vitae, re magis quam verbis, secuti sumus,

mode of life, Cic. Cael. 17, 40; so,

vitae,

Quint. 3, 8, 38; 12, 2, 6; Plin. Pan. 45, 4; cf. id. ib. 85, 7:

horum nos hominum sectam atque instituta persequimur,

Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 70, § 181; cf.:

cujus sectam sequi, cujus imperio parere potissimum vellet,

id. Rab. Perd. 8, 22:

sequi ejus auctoritatem, cujus sectam atque imperium secutus est,

id. Fam. 13, 4, 2:

omnis natura habet quasi viam quandam et sectam quam sequatur,

id. N. D. 2, 22, 57:

negant se pro Vitruvio sectamque ejus secutis precatum venisse,

Liv. 8, 19; cf. id. 29, 27; 35, 49; 36, 1;

42, 31: juvenes hortatur, ut illam ire viam pergant et eidem incumbere sectae,

Juv. 14, 121 sq.:

divitioris sectam plerumque secuntur Quamlibet et fortes,

follow, adhere to, Lucr. 5, 1114:

gallae sectam meam exsecutae, mihi comites, etc.,

Cat. 63, 15 et saep.—

II.

In partic., doctrines, school, sect (not freq. until the post-Aug. per.; syn.: schola, disciplina).

A.

In philosophic lang.:

quo magis tuum, Brute, judicium probo, qui eorum philosophorum sectam secutus es,

Cic. Brut. 31, 120; cf.:

inter Stoicos et Epicuri sectam secutos pugna perpetua est,

Quint. 5, 7, 35.— Plur.:

ad morem certas in philosophia sectas sequendi,

Quint. 3, 1, 18:

neque me cujusdam sectae velut quādam superstitione imbutus addixi,

id. 3, 1, 22:

assumptā Stoicorum arrogantiā sectāque,

Tac. A. 14, 57:

Demetrio Cynicam sectam professo,

id. H. 4, 40:

auctoritatem Stoicae sectae praeferebat,

id. A. 16, 32; 6, 22:

inter duos diversarum sectarum velut duces,

Quint. 5, 13, 59. —

B.

In jurisprudence:

hi duo primum veluti diversas sectas fecerunt,

schools, Dig. 1, 2, 2, § 47.—

C.

In medicine, a school:

alia est Hippocratis secta, alia Asclepiadis,

Sen. Ep. 95, 9.—

D.

In religion, a sect, Cod. Just. 1, 9, 3:

plurimae sectae et haereses,

Lact. 4, 30, 2:

Nazaraenorum,

Vulg. Act. 24, 5.—

E.

Rarely of a class or guild of men:

sincera et innoxia pastoriae illius sectae integritas,

Flor. 3, 12, 2.—

F.

In Appul., a band of robbers, App. M. 4, pp. 150, 29, and 153, 22.

2.

secta, ōrum, n. [1. seco, I. B. 1.], parts of the body operated upon:

secta recentia,

Plin. 31, 11, 47, § 126.