counsel

[ koun-suhl ]

noun

, plural coun·sel

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. (used with a singular or plural verb) 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)

, coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

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)

, coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

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. counsel of perfection
   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

Usage

See council

Confusables Note

See council.

Derived Forms

• ˈcounsellable, adjective

Other Words From

• counsel·a·ble especially British, counsel·la·ble adjective
• pre·counsel noun verb precounseled precounseling or (especially British) precounselled precounselling
• re·counsel verb (used with object) recounseled recounseling or (especially British) recounselled recounselling
• un·counseled adjective
• un·counselled adjective
• well-counseled adjective
• well-counselled 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.

More idioms and phrases containing counsel

see keep one's own counsel .

Synonym Study

See advice.

Example Sentences

The legislative counsel wrote that “legislating remotely arguably violates the constitutional guarantee of open and public meetings,” and that it could also violate Prop.

From Voice of San Diego

Google named a new top lawyer on Tuesday, appointing a 14-year veteran of the company, Halimah DeLaine Prado, as its new general counsel.

From Fortune

From the first day Shmuel Sunray joined NSO as its general counsel, he faced one international incident after another.

From MIT Technology Review

On par with speeding tickets, infractions don’t entitle defendants to legal counsel or a trial by jury.

From Voice of San Diego

Voters will also decide whether the city should create a new police oversight commission with independent legal counsel and subpoena power.

From Voice of San Diego

Currently, Israel is holding around 470 Palestinians without charge or access to legal counsel.

From The Daily Beast

Israel commonly holds people suspected of threatening national security for long periods without access to legal counsel.

From The Daily Beast

Brown sought his counsel as he prepared to start college and make a life of his own.

From The Daily Beast

She goes to church with her husband, but when the pastor asks to counsel her in private, she shuts him down.

From The Daily Beast

At LLGS, you certainly felt proud to be able it to offer help or counsel.

From The Daily Beast

Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.

From Project Gutenberg

Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.

From Project Gutenberg

Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counsellor for himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Bahadur Shah held out against the vehement urging of his daughter aided now by the counsel of her brothers.

From Project Gutenberg

Take counsel together, and it shall be defeated: speak a word, and it shall not be done: because God is with us.

From Project Gutenberg