Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

sectĭo, ōnis, f. [seco], a cutting, cutting off, cutting up.

  1. I. In gen. (so only post-Aug.): sectio et partitio corporis (humani), Gell. 20, 1, 39; so, corporum, Vitr. 2, 2: cyma a primā sectione praestat, Plin. 19, 8, 41, § 137.
  2. II. In partic.
    1. * A. A cutting of diseased parts of the body: (mandragoras) bibitur ante sectiones punctionesque, ne sentiantur, Plin. 25, 13, 94, § 150.
    2. B. A castration, App. M. 7, p. 199, 31.
    3. C. Publicists’ t. t., a dividing, parcelling out, or distribution by auction of captured or confiscated goods (the prevailing and class. signif.; syn.: auctio, licitatio): cujus praedae sectio non venierit, Cic. Inv. 1, 45, 85: sectionem ejus oppidi universam Caesar vendidit, * Caes. B. G. 2, 33; Cic. Fragm. ap. Gell. 13, 24, 6; id. Phil. 2, 26, 64; 2, 29, 71; Varr. R. R. 2, 10, 4; Tac. H. 1, 90; id. A. 13, 23; Suet. Vit. 2.
    4. D. Hence, of the confiscation of property by tax-gatherers: sectiones publicanorum, Just. 38, 7, 8.
    5. E. Geometrical t. t., division, section: ut de ratione dividendi, de sectione in infinitum, etc., Quint. 1, 10, 49.