Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

counsel

[koun-suhl]
See more synonyms for counsel on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural coun·sel for 3.
  1. advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.
  2. interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.
  3. 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?
  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.
Show More
verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
  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.
Show More
verb (used without object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
  1. to give counsel or advice.
  2. to get or take counsel or advice.
Show More
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.
Show More

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
Related formscoun·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, adjectiveun·coun·selled, adjectivewell-coun·seled, adjectivewell-coun·selled, adjective
Can be confusedconsul council counsel (see usage note at council)

Synonyms for counsel

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
1. recommendation, suggestion. 3. lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

Synonym study

1. See advice.

Usage note

See council.

counseling

or coun·sel·ling

[koun-suh-ling]
noun Psychology.
  1. professional guidance in resolving personal conflicts and emotional problems.
Show More

Origin of counseling

counsel + -ing1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for counselling

prompt, exhort, direct, instruct, caution, enjoin, confab, reprehend, suggest, tip, charge, recommend, advise, urge, advocate, prescribe, warn, admonish, teach, huddle

Examples from the Web for counselling

Historical Examples of counselling

  • Im not counselling you, laddie, to plunge into a course of sensual debauchery.

    The Rough Road

    William John Locke

  • Carlo spoke a stern word in an undertone; counselling him to be gone.

    Vittoria, Complete

    George Meredith

  • And all the while the Lake Indians of the North were planning and counselling.

    The Conquest

    Eva Emery Dye

  • I am now helping our 200 men off, encouraging and counselling them what I can.

  • Aye, but says Ludovico, you don't know what they are counselling about.

British Dictionary definitions for counselling

counselling

US counseling

noun
  1. guidance offered by social workers, doctors, etc, to help a person resolve social or personal problems
Show More

counsel

noun
  1. advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
  2. discussion, esp on future procedure; consultationto 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 matterscounsel 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. counsel of perfection excellent but unrealizable advice
  8. private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)
  9. archaic wisdom; prudence
Show More
verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled
  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. (intr) archaic to take counsel; consult
Show More
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

counsel

n.

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.

Show More

counsel

v.

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.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with counselling

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.

Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.