I.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.
