sectyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[sect 词源字典]
sect: [14] Despite its similarity to section and sector, sect has nothing to do with ‘cutting’. It comes via Old French secte from Latin secta, which denoted literally a ‘following’, hence a ‘faction of supporters’ (it was a noun use of sectus, an archaic past participle of sequī ‘follow’, from which English gets sequence, sue, etc). Set ‘group’ is ultimately the same word as sect.
=> second, sequel, sequence, set, sue, suit[sect etymology, sect origin, 英语词源]
sect (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
mid-14c., "distinctive system of beliefs or observances; party or school within a religion," from Old French secte, sete "sect, religious community," or directly from Late Latin secta "religious group, sect in philosophy or religion," from Latin secta "manner, mode, following, school of thought," literally "a way, road, beaten path," from fem. of sectus, variant past participle of sequi "follow," from PIE *sekw- (1) "to follow" (see sequel). Confused in this sense with Latin secta, fem. past participle of secare "to cut" (see section (n.)). Meaning "separately organized religious body" is recorded from 1570s.