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

A special counsel also found that former President Joe Biden improperly stored classified documents from his time as vice president, but did not criminally charge him.

Read more on BBC

“This community’s streets are not littered with people that have been laid off,” said Jeremy Aguero, a principal analyst with Applied Analysis, a firm that provides economic and fiscal policy counsel in Las Vegas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So rather than be expelled from the treatment programme, patients who get a positive drug test are given extra support and counselling.

Read more on BBC

The Justice Department appointed a special counsel in 2023 to examine how classified documents turned up in the home and office of President Joe Biden following his tenure as vice president.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a letter, the state says it “intends to hire new counsel for the cases covered under the Legal Services Contract.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal