sectātor, ōris, m. [2. sector], a follower, attendant, adherent; in the plur., a train, retinue, suite (syn. assectator).
I In gen. (rare but class.): at sectabantur multi. Quid opus est sectatoribus? (of the train accompanying a candidate) Cic. Mur. 34, 71 (shortly afterwards, assectatio and assectari); cf.: lex Fabia, quae est de numero sectatorum, id. ib. 34, 71: num Gabinii comes vel sectator? id. Rab. Post. 8, 21: puerorum rixantium, Sen. Brev. Vit. 12, 2; cf.: sectator domi, comes in publico, Tac. A. 4, 68: habet (Thrasea) sectatores vel potius satellites, id. ib. 16, 22: multis sectatorum dilapsis, id. ib. 5, 10 fin. : sectator quaestoris, id. ib. 11, 21.—
II In partic.
1 A follower , adherent of a leader or sect (only post-Aug.): hic non tam discipulos quam sectatores aliquot habuit, Suet. Gram. 24; cf. Tac. Or. 34: cohors sectatorum Aristotelis, Gell. 13, 5, 2: eloquentiae aut philosophiae sectatores, id. 19, 5, 1; cf. id. 2, 2, 2. —
2 One who practises , a follower (late Lat.): bonorum operum, Vulg. Tit. 2, 14.