Pronunciation: [sˈɛpt] (IPA) 
The word "sept" is spelled with four letters, and its pronunciation is /sɛpt/. It is a noun that refers to a division of a clan or a family. The spelling of "sept" is derived from the Old French word "sept," which means "seven," suggesting that sept originally referred to a group of seven families. Although it's a short and simple word, its meaning is significant in Celtic cultures where sept identification is still prevalently used today.
Sept, noun, (sĕpt)
Meaning:
1. A division or group of seven; a set or series consisting of seven elements.
Example: The rainbow is often depicted as consisting of a sept of colors, symbolizing its seven distinct hues.
2. A Scottish clan or its territory.
Example: The MacGregor sept descended from the Clan Gregor, and they lived in the region surrounding Loch Lomond.
3. In heraldry, a charge or device representing the number seven.
Example: The coat of arms featured a shield with a blue sept comprising seven silver stars denoting the family's seven major achievements.
4. Historical usage: A social division of the ancient Irish and Scottish peoples, often associated with tribal affiliations or family connections.
Example: In ancient Ireland, O'Malley was considered a sept of the powerful O'Connor clan, and they maintained their own distinct customs and traditions.
Origin:
The term "sept" originated from the Latin word "septem," meaning "seven." It later entered the English language through Old French and Middle English. The sense of "clan" or "division" likely derived from its historical usage among Irish and Scottish territories and families. The term's usage in heraldry also reflects its association with the number seven, while the general concept of a division or group consisting of seven elements expanded to various other contexts.
Synonyms:
Division, group, set, series, clan, family, tribe.
• A prefix signifying seven.
• A clan, a branch of a race, or a family.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sept" originated from the Old French "sept" and Latin "septem", both of which mean "seven". This etymology is due to the fact that "sept" historically referred to a kindred group or a clan consisting of seven families or households. This term is primarily associated with Irish and Scottish clans, where the concept of a "sept" is still occasionally used to identify subgroups within a larger clan.
