secta (noun 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.
* 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.
* In partic., doctrines, school, sect (not freq. until the post-Aug. per.; syn.: schola, disciplina).
* 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.
* In Appul., a band of robbers, App. M. 4, pp. 150, 29, and 153, 22.
* In medicine, a school: alia est Hippocratis secta, alia Asclepiadis,Sen. Ep. 95, 9.
* In religion, a sect, Cod. Just. 1, 9, 3: plurimae sectae et haereses,Lact. 4, 30, 2: Nazaraenorum,Vulg. Act. 24, 5.
* Rarely of a class or guild of men: sincera et innoxia pastoriae illius sectae integritas,Flor. 3, 12, 2.

secta (noun N) : 1. seco, I. B. 1.
* Parts of the body operated upon: secta recentia,Plin. 31, 11, 47, § 126.