sectary

[ sek-tuh-ree ]
See synonyms for sectary on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural sec·ta·ries.
  1. a member of a particular sect, especially an adherent of a religious body regarded as heretical or schismatic.

  2. a Protestant of nonconformist denomination, especially a minor one.

  1. a person zealously devoted to a particular sect.

Origin of sectary

1
1550–60; <Medieval Latin sectārius, equivalent to sect(a) sect + -ārius-ary

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sectary in a sentence

  • This feeling against the sectaries did not die out, even after the movement had become respected and honoured by the university.

    Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland
  • It was composed of thirty members, chosen with great care from among the most violent sectaries of the Assembly.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
  • In fact, the first attacks upon the temporal power of the Pope came from the sectaries abroad.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
  • In this matter we can distinguish three classes of men, the sectaries, the liberals and the Catholics.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham
  • From the sectaries, therefore, nothing could be hoped for in the way of religious pacification.

    The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for sectary

sectary

/ (ˈsɛktərɪ) /


nounplural -taries
  1. a member of a sect, esp a person who belongs to a religious sect that is regarded as heretical or schismatic

  2. a person excessively devoted to a particular sect

  1. a member of a Nonconformist denomination, esp one that is small

Origin of sectary

1
C16: from Medieval Latin sectārius, from Latin secta sect

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012