Entry 2 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Sect

/(sĕkt)/ · IPA /sɛkt/

01 n. A cutting; a scion.

1.
A cutting; a scion.[Obs.]

02 n. Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance d…

1.
Those following a particular leader or authority, or attached to a certain opinion; a company or set having a common belief or allegiance distinct from others; in religion, the believers in a particular creed, or upholders of a particular practice; especially, in modern times, a party dissenting from an established church; a denomination; in philosophy, the disciples of a particular master; a school; in society and the state, an order, rank, class, or party.
“He beareth the sign of poverty, And in that sect our Savior saved all mankind.” — Piers Plowman.

“As of the sect of which that he was born, He kept his lay, to which that he was sworn.” — Chaucer.

“The cursed sect of that detestable and false prophet Mohammed.” — Fabyan.

“As concerning this sect [Christians], we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” — Acts xxviii. 22.