counsel

[ koun-suhl ]

/ ˈkaʊn səl /

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See synonyms for: counsel / counseled / counseling / counselled 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR counsel

1 recommendation, suggestion.

3 lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

See synonyms for counsel on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about counsel

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

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; see consult,-ium

synonym study for counsel

1. See advice.

words often confused with counsel

See council.

OTHER WORDS FROM counsel

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-counseled, adjectivewell-counselled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH counsel

consul, council, counsel (see confusables note at council)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use counsel in a sentence

If it turns out that there is some material, criminal behavior going on, then there’s a referral made to law enforcement, often in conjunction with outside counsel.
A journalist-turned-detective on how corporate America depends on private sleuths|Jeremy Kahn|October 31, 2020|Fortune
Under congressional power, the breakups would target types of business, rather than particular companies, committee counsel told reporters on Tuesday.
House panel proposes largest antitrust reforms in decades to rein in Big Tech|kdunn6|October 7, 2020|Fortune
The proposal achieved Saufley’s goal at the time, which was to create an entity separate from the judicial branch where court-appointed counsel would have independence from judges and prosecutors.
Maine Hires Lawyers With Criminal Records to Defend Its Poorest Residents|by Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor, with data analysis by Agnel Philip|October 6, 2020|ProPublica
“Certainly not more of the same,” says Linda Jun, senior policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform.
What the unbanked need from the 2020 election|McKenna Moore|September 30, 2020|Fortune

“We’re pleased that the Attorney General has rejected the City’s claims,” said Matt Topic, outside general counsel for the BGA.
When Is a Meeting Not a Meeting and a Lawmaker Not a Lawmaker? When It’s Lori Lightfoot’s Chicago.|by Mick Dumke|September 24, 2020|ProPublica
Mr Aldis counselled him not to learn his speeches, but to write out and commit to memory certain passages and the peroration.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
Many of his men counselled him therefrom, but none the less went he with a great following to the house of which Sigrid was lady.
The Sagas of Olaf Tryggvason and of Harald The Tyrant (Harald Haardraade)|Snorri Sturluson
"Keep trying," counselled the referee, keeping pace with her.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
Honor and prudence alike counselled a refusal, and he refused.
My Recollections of Lord Byron|Teresa Guiccioli
In sovereignty it is a most happy thing not to be compelled; but so it is the most miserable not to be counselled.
Discoveries Made Upon Men and Matter|Ben Jonson

British Dictionary definitions for counsel

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 of counsel

counsellable or US counselable, adjective

Word Origin for counsel

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

undefined counsel

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with counsel

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.

counsel

OTHER WORDS FOR counsel

Idioms about counsel

Origin of counsel

synonym study for counsel

words often confused with counsel

OTHER WORDS FROM counsel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH counsel

Words related to counsel

How to use counsel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for counsel

Derived forms of counsel

Word Origin for counsel

undefined counsel

Other Idioms and Phrases with counsel