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

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

The charity offers hands on support for families through counselling, home visits, activity days and day trips.

Read more on BBC

At a hearing last month, government attorney Jonathan Ross argued that “evidence shows detainees at B-18 are meeting with attorneys, they have access to counsel.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I don’t know how any counsel in good faith could submit something like that for reimbursement of expenses, saying it’s reasonably related to the defense of a criminal action.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

During Zoom calls and gatherings, neighbors counsel one another, sharing names of contractors and builders and updates on their design plans and permit statuses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Senators inserted the carve-out in response to revelations that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, during special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, subpoenaed the phone records of several Republican senators.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal