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 Apul., a band of robbers, Ap. Met. 4, 18, 7, and 4, 23, 15.