counsel
- advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.
- interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.
- 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?
- deliberate purpose; plan; design.
- 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.
- Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.
- Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.
- to give advice to; advise.
- to urge the adoption of, as a course of action; recommend (a plan, policy, etc.): He counseled patience during the crisis.
- to give counsel or advice.
- to get or take counsel or advice.
- keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.
- take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.
Origin of counsel
Synonyms for counsel
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Usage note
Related Words for counseled
prompt, exhort, direct, instruct, caution, enjoin, confab, reprehend, suggest, tip, charge, recommend, advise, urge, advocate, prescribe, warn, admonish, teach, huddleExamples from the Web for counseled
Contemporary Examples of counseled
A psychologist from the Syrian town of Latakia recently told me she had counseled 15 women who had been released from detention.
During his time there, Davis counseled students seeking abortions.
“Remain devout, patient and persistent in upholding high moral values,” bin Laden counseled.
He had apparently been counseled by sceptical teammates that paying into the system at his advanced age would be foolish.
He then counseled me not to use up my “remaining days” fretting over Mia.
Historical Examples of counseled
"You want to cut out worrying about me," he counseled, bravely.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
"May as well face the music," he counseled himself, in resignation.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
Absurdly few to fight the Mercutians, but Hilary counseled patience.
Slaves of MercuryNat Schachner
Like Wilder, they counseled a sweeping denial, but David was firm.
David DunneBelle Kanaris Maniates
"Yes, don't make so many remarks," counseled the auctioneer.
Tom Swift and his Motor-boatVictor Appleton
counsel
- advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
- discussion, esp on future procedure; consultationto take counsel with a friend
- a person whose advice or guidance is or has been sought
- a barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in court and advising on legal matterscounsel for the prosecution
- a policy or plan
- Christianity any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels, namely poverty, chastity, and obedience
- counsel of perfection excellent but unrealizable advice
- private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)
- archaic wisdom; prudence
- (tr) to give advice or guidance to
- (tr; often takes a clause as object) to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge
- (intr) archaic to take counsel; consult
Word Origin for counsel
confusable
Word Origin and History for counseled
counsel
early 13c., from Old French counseil (10c.) "advice, counsel; deliberation, thought," from Latin consilium "plan, opinion" (see consultation). As a synonym for "lawyer," first attested late 14c.
counsel
late 13c., from Old French conseiller "to advise, counsel," from Latin consiliari, from consilium "plan, opinion" (see counsel (n.)). Related: Counseled. Counseling "giving professional advice on social or psychological problems" dates from 1940.
Idioms and Phrases with counseled
counsel
see keep one's own counsel.