Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Counsel

Coun′sel

(koun′sĕl)
,
Noun.
[OE.
conseil
, F.
conseil
, fr. L.
consilium
, fr. the root of
consulere
to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf.
Consult
,
Consul
.]
1.
Interchange of opinions; mutual advising; consultation.
All the chief priest and elders of the people took
counsel
against Jesus, to put him to death.
Matt. xxvii. 1.
2.
Examination of consequences; exercise of deliberate judgment; prudence.
They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that
counsel
is used.
Hooker.
3.
Result of consultation; advice; instruction.
I like thy
counsel
; well hast thou advised.
Shakespeare
It was ill
counsel
had misled the girl.
Tennyson.
4.
Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
The
counsel
of the Lord standeth forever.
Ps. xxxiii. 11.
The
counsels
of the wicked are deceit.
Prov. xii. 5.
5.
A secret opinion or purpose; a private matter.
Thilke lord . . . to whom no
counsel
may be hid.
Gower.
6.
One who gives advice, especially in legal matters; one professionally engaged in the trial or management of a cause in court; also, collectively, the legal advocates united in the management of a case;
as, the defendant has able
counsel
.
The King found his
counsel
as refractory as his judges.
Macaulay.
☞ In some courts a distinction is observed between the attorney and the counsel in a cause, the former being employed in the management of the more mechanical parts of the suit, the latter in attending to the pleadings, managing the cause at the trial, and in applying the law to the exigencies of the case during the whole progress of the suit. In other courts the same person can exercise the powers of each. See
Attorney
.
Kent.
In counsel
,
in secret.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
–
To keep counsel
, or
To keep one’s own counsel
,
to keep one's thoughts, purposes, etc., undisclosed.
Syn. – Advice; consideration; consultation; purpose; scheme; opinion.

Coun′sel

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Counseled
(-sĕld)
or
Counselled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Counseling
or
Counselling
.]
[OE.
conseilen
,
counseilen
, F.
conseiller
, fr. L.
consiliari
, fr.
consilium
counsel.]
1.
To give advice to; to advice, admonish, or instruct, as a person.
Good sir, I do in friendship
counsel
you
To leave this place.
Shakespeare
2.
To advise or recommend, as an act or course.
They who
counsel
war.
Milton.
Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb,
Counseled
ignoble ease and peaceful sloth.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Counsel

COUNSEL

,
Noun.
[L., to consult; to ask, to assail.]
1.
Advice; opinion, or instruction, given upon request or otherwise, for directing the judgment or conduct of another; opinion given upon deliberation or consultation.
Every purpose is established by counsel. Proverbs 20.
Thou hast not hearkened to my counsel. 2 Chronicles 25.
2.
Consultation; interchange of opinions.
We took sweet counsel together. Psalm 55.
3.
Deliberation; examination of consequences.
They all confess that, in the working of that first cause, counsel is used, reason followed, and a way observed.
4.
Prudence; deliberate opinion or judgment, or the faculty or habit of judging with caution.
O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honor. Ecclus. 25.
The law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. Ezekiel 7.
5.
In a bad sense, evil advice or designs; art; machination.
The counsel of the froward is carried headlong. Job 5.
6.
Secresy; the secrets entrusted in consultation; secret opinions or purposes. Let a man keep his own counsel.
7.
In a scriptural sense, purpose; design; will; decree.
What thy counsel determined before to be done. Acts 4.
To show the immutability of his counsel. Hebrews 6.
8.
Directions of Gods word.
Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel. Psalm 73.
9.
The will of God or his truth and doctrines concerning the way of salvation.
I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God. Acts 20.
10.
Those who give counsel in law; any counselor or advocate, or any number of counselors, barristers or sergeants; as the plaintiffs counsel, or the defendants counsel. The attorney-general and solicitor-general are the kings counsel. In this sense, the word has no plural; but in the singular number, is applicable to one or more persons.

COUNSEL

,
Verb.
T.
[L.]
1.
To give advice or deliberate opinion to another for the government of his conduct; to advise.
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire. Revelations 3.
2.
To exhort, warn, admonish, or instruct. We ought frequently to counsel our children against the vices of the age.
They that will not be counseled, cannot be helped.
3.
To advise or recommend; as, to counsel a crime. [Not much used.]

Definition 2024

counsel

counsel

English

Noun

counsel ‎(plural counsels)

  1. The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
    • Bible, Matthew xxvii. 1
      All the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.
  2. Exercise of judgment; prudence.
    • Hooker
      They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that counsel is used.
  3. Advice; guidance.
    • Shakespeare
      I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised.
    • Tennyson
      It was ill counsel had misled the girl.
  4. Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
    • Bible, Psalms xxxiii. 11
      The counsel of the Lord standeth forever.
    • Bible, Proverbs xii. 5
      The counsels of the wicked are deceit.
  5. (obsolete) A secret opinion or purpose; a private matter.
    • Gower
      thilke lord […] to whom no counsel may be hid
  6. A lawyer, as in Queen's Counsel (QC).

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:advice

Usage notes

In the sense 'lawyer', the plural is usually unchanged counsel.

Translations

Verb

counsel ‎(third-person singular simple present counsels, present participle counselling or counseling, simple past and past participle counselled or counseled)

  1. To give advice, especially professional advice.
    The lawyer counselled his client to remain silent.
    Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals counsel clients.
  2. To recommend

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:advise

Translations

Derived terms

Related terms

See also

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English counseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō ‎(“take counsel, consult”).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: kounʹ-səl, IPA(key): /ˈkaʊn.səl/
  • Homophone: council

Similar Results