I.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. —
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.
