counsel

[ koun-suhl ]

/ ˈkaʊn səl /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR counsel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural coun·sel for 3.

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.

verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

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.

verb (used without object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

to give counsel or advice.

to get or take counsel or advice.

Nearby words

councilman body, councilmember, councilor, councilperson, councilwoman, counsel, counselee, counseling, counselling, counsellor, counselor

Idioms

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

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

SYNONYMS FOR counsel

1 recommendation, suggestion.

3 lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR counsel ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

coun·sel·a·ble; especially British, coun·sel·la·ble, adjectivepre·coun·sel, noun, verb, pre·coun·seled, pre·coun·sel·ing or (especially British) pre·coun·selled, pre·coun·sel·ling.re·coun·sel, verb (used with object), re·coun·seled, re·coun·sel·ing or (especially British) re·coun·selled, re·coun·sel·ling.un·coun·seled, adjective

un·coun·selled, adjectivewell-coun·seled, adjectivewell-coun·selled, adjective

Can be confused

consul council counsel (see usage note at council)

Synonym study

1. See advice.

Usage note

See council.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for counseled

A psychologist from the Syrian town of Latakia recently told me she had counseled 15 women who had been released from detention.
Escaping Assad’s Rape Prisons: A Survivor Tells Her Story|Jamie Dettmer|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Remain devout, patient and persistent in upholding high moral values,” bin Laden counseled.
Ahmed Abdi Godane Is Al-Shabab's Osama bin Laden|Jamie Dettmer|September 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had apparently been counseled by sceptical teammates that paying into the system at his advanced age would be foolish.
Havana Bids Adios to Conrado Marrero, MLB’s Oldest Player|Peter C. Bjarkman|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He then counseled me not to use up my “remaining days” fretting over Mia.
The Woody Allen Allegations: Not So Fast|Robert B. Weide|January 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As a free man, Northup frequently met with slaves, and without fail he counseled them to strike for freedom.
The ‘12 Years a Slave’ Book Shows Slavery As Even More Appalling Than In the Film|Jimmy So|October 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He accused him of injustice and cruelty, and upbraided him, and all who counseled and aided him, in the severest terms.
Richard III|Jacob Abbott
Tell me, candidly, my dear friend, whether you have not counseled Porthos to distrust me a little?
Louise de la Valliere|Alexandre Dumas, Pere
"Well, keep out enough to buy a gun, two of 'em if you're a double-handed man," Conboy counseled.
Trail's End|George W. Ogden
Her acquiescence, of course, silenced my objections, and I could only grieve where I would have counseled.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 5. May 1848|Various
"May as well face the music," he counseled himself, in resignation.
The Black Bag|Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for counseled

counsel

/ (ˈkaʊnsəl) /

noun

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

verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled

(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

Derived Forms

counsellable or US counselable, adjective

Word Origin for counsel

C13: from Old French counseil, from Latin consilium deliberating body; related to consul, consult

confusable

Avoid confusion with council

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with counseled

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.