Sectarius

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A member of a particular religious or philosophical group who is often dedicated to a doctrine or belief system
2. An individual who follows a sect, particularly in the context of historical or Christian meaning
3. Someone belonging to a division within a larger organization, emphasizing distinct beliefs or practices

Etymology: "Sectarius" is the Latin adjective from "secta," meaning a following, a course of action, or a school of thought. "Secta" itself comes from "sequi," "to follow," so the underlying idea is simply someone who goes along with a path that others have marked out. Latin used "sectarius" for a person who adhered to a particular party or school, and the word carried a sense of partisanship that was often more critical than neutral. English took the idea rather than the Latin form directly. The adjective "sectary" and the noun "sectarian" came into use in the 1600s, and "sectarian" developed the meaning of narrowly devoted to a faction, especially in religious or political disputes. The Latin spelling "sectarius" survives mostly in dictionaries and scholarly writing, where it shows the root that links it to "sect," "sequel," and "consequence."