counsel

[koun-suhl]

noun

plural

counsel 

1. advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.

   Synonyms: suggestion, recommendation

2. interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.

3. Law.,  the advocate or advocates engaged in the direction of a cause in court; a legal adviser or counselor.

   Is counsel for the defense present?

   Synonyms: barrister, solicitor, attorney, lawyer

4. deliberate purpose; plan; design.

5. Theology.,  one of the advisory declarations of Christ, considered by some Christians as not universally binding but as given for aid in attaining moral perfection.

6. Archaic.,  a private or secret opinion or purpose.

7. Obsolete.,  wisdom; prudence.

verb (used with object)

counseled, counseling , counselled, counselling .

1. to give advice to; advise.

2. to urge the adoption of, as a course of action; recommend (a plan, policy, etc.).

   He counseled patience during the crisis.

verb (used without object)

counseled, counseling , counselled, counselling .

1. to give counsel or advice.

2. to get or take counsel or advice.

counsel

/ ˈkaʊnsəl /

noun

1. advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc

2. discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation

   to take counsel with a friend

3. a person whose advice or guidance is or has been sought

4. a barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in court and advising on legal matters

   counsel for the prosecution

5. a policy or plan

6. Christianity any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels , namely poverty, chastity, and obedience

7. excellent but unrealizable advice

8. private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel )

9. archaic,  wisdom; prudence

verb

1. (tr) to give advice or guidance to

2. (tr; often takes a clause as object) to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge

3. archaic,  (intr) to take counsel; consult

Confusables Note

See council

See council.

Other Word Forms

• counsellable adjective
• counselable adjective
• precounsel noun
• recounsel verb (used with object)
• uncounseled adjective
• uncounselled adjective
• well-counseled adjective
• well-counselled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of counsel¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun counseil, from Anglo-French cunseil, Old French conseil, concile from Latin consilium “debate, advice, advisory body, plan,” equivalent to consil-, variant stem of consulere “to apply for advice” + -ium noun suffix; verb from Anglo-French cunseiler, Old French conseillier, from Late Latin consiliāre, derivative of consilium; consult, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of counsel¹

C13: from Old French counseil, from Latin consilium deliberating body; related to _consul , _consult

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.

2. take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.

see keep one's own counsel.

Synonym Study

See advice.

Example Sentences

Here any reliable pundit would counsel caution—it could all fall apart, joy may be premature.

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She, too, counseled frankness regarding price—though she acknowledged, ruefully, that she has encountered sommeliers who judge customers based on how much they want to spend.

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Boucaud counseled pairing it with the pork medallions, and he was so right.

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Conservative therapists argue they have a First Amendment right to counsel as they wish.

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“If we start hearing about harmed patients, it’s highly likely FDA gets involved,” said Lowell Schiller, former acting chief counsel for the FDA in 2018.

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