sectary

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a member or adherent of a particular religious sect, school of thought, or party; now rare

   Each sectary looked to the small congregation for discipline and support.

2. 2
   noun

   historical: a Protestant dissenter or nonconformist

   The magistrate distrusted the sectary for worshipping outside the established church.

Borrowed from French sectaire or directly from Medieval Latin sectarius, from Latin secta, 'a following, school, or party.' Secta is related to sequi, 'to follow,' so a sectary is literally a follower or adherent.

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