Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sect \Sect\, n. [L. secare, sectum, to cut.]
   A cutting; a scion. [Obs.] --Shak.

Sect \Sect\, n. [F. secte, L. sects, fr. sequi to follew; often
   confused with L. secare, sectum, to cut. See {Sue} to follow,
   and cf. {Sept}, {Suit}, n.]
   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.

Source : WordNet®

sect
     n 1: a subdivision of a larger religious group [syn: {religious
          sect}, {religious order}]
     2: a dissenting clique [syn: {faction}]