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

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 confusedconsul council counsel (see usage note at council)

Synonym study

1. See advice.

Usage note

See council.

Definition for counselling (2 of 2)

counseling

or coun·sel·ling

[ koun-suh-ling ]

/ ˈkaʊn sə lɪŋ /

noun Psychology.

professional guidance in resolving personal conflicts and emotional problems.

Origin of counseling

counsel + -ing¹

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

Examples from the Web for counselling

After counselling them in brief words to apply to him whenever they were in difficulty, he disappeared in the pool.
Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 3 (of 3)|James Athearn Jones
Now, in counselling opposition of the most determined nature to any such attempt, we are actuated by no factious spirit.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, No. 421, November 1850|Various
Come thou to this house with a gracious heart, come with counselling Zeus, and lend grace to my song.
The Homeric Hymns|Andrew Lang
He believed that his best chance of political salvation lay in counselling his master to grant the petition of Parliament.
Henrietta Maria|Henrietta Haynes

For you were capable, my dear Horace, of counselling statesmen.
Dialogues of the Dead|Lord Lyttelton

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (1 of 2)

counselling

US counseling

/ (ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ) /

noun

guidance offered by social workers, doctors, etc, to help a person resolve social or personal problems

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (2 of 2)

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 Formscounsellable 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

Word Origin and History for counselling (1 of 2)

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.

Word Origin and History for counselling (1 of 2)

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 counselling

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.

counsel

noun, plural coun·sel for 3.

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

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

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of counsel

Synonym study

Usage note

Definition for counselling (2 of 2)

counseling

or coun·sel·ling

noun Psychology.

Origin of counseling

Examples from the Web for counselling

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (1 of 2)

counselling

US counseling

noun

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (2 of 2)

counsel

noun

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

Word Origin for counsel

confusable

Word Origin and History for counselling (1 of 2)

counsel

Word Origin and History for counselling (1 of 2)

counsel

Idioms and Phrases with counselling

counsel