Counsel definition | Dictionary.com

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Synonyms of Counsel

conference, consultation, parley, recommendation, attorney, counselor, consultant, mentor, recommend, admonish, advice, advise

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counsel

9 dictionary results for: Counsel

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

coun·sel

[koun-suh

l] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -sel for 3, verb, -seled, -sel·ing or (especially British

) -selled, -sel·ling.

–noun

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.

–verb (used with object)

8.	to give advice to; advise.

9.	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)

10.	to give counsel or advice.

11.	to get or take counsel or advice.

—Idioms

12.	keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.

13.	take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.

[Origin: 1175–1225; (n.) ME counseil < AF cunseil, OF conseil < L consilium debate, advice, advisory body, plan, equiv. to consil-, var. s. of consulere to apply for advice (see consult) + -ium -ium; (v.) < AF cunseiler (OF conseillier) < LL consiliāre, deriv. of consilium

]

—Related forms

coun·sel·a·ble; especially British, coun·sel·la·ble, adjective

—Synonyms 1. recommendation, suggestion. See advice. 3. lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

—Usage note See council.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

coun·sel (koun'səl) Pronunciation Key
n.

The act of exchanging opinions and ideas; consultation.
Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person. See Synonyms at advice.
A plan of action.
Private, guarded thoughts or opinions: keep one's own counsel.
A lawyer or group of lawyers giving legal advice and especially conducting a case in court.

v. coun·seled or coun·selled, coun·sel·ing or coun·sel·ling, coun·sels

v. tr.

To give counsel to; advise. See Synonyms at advise.
To recommend: counseled care in the forthcoming negotiations.

v. intr.
To give or take advice. See Usage Note at council.

[Middle English counseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulere, to take counsel, consult.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
counsel (n.)

c.1225, from O.Fr. counseil, from L. consilium "plan, opinion" (see consultation). As a synonym for "lawyer," first attested late 14c. Counseling "giving professional advice on social or psychological problems" dates from 1940.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

counsel
noun
1.	a lawyer who pleads cases in court [syn: advocate]
2.	something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action [syn: guidance]
verb
1.	give advice to; "The teacher counsels troubled students"; "The lawyer counselled me when I was accused of tax fraud" [syn: rede]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ¹coun·sel
Pronunciation: 'kaun-s&l
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural counsel
Etymology: Old French conseil advice, from Latin consilium discussion, advice, council, from consulere to consult
: LAWYER: as a : a lawyer participating in the management or trial of a case in court <…to have the assistance of counsel for his defense —U.S. Constitution amendment VI> counsel> b : a lawyer appointed or engaged to advise or represent a client in legal matters (as negotiations or the drafting of documents) —compare ATTORNEY
NOTE: A judge who has acted as counsel in a matter (as by advising an investigator) is disqualified from hearing the case.—of counsel 1 : assisting another lawyer in a case of counsel>
2 : employed on a part-time basis of counsel —National Law Journal>

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ²counsel
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -seled or -selled; -sel·ing or -sel·ling
: ADVISE

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Counsel

Coun"sel\ (koun"s?l), n. [OE. conc?l, 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. --Shak.

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.

Note: The some courts a distinction is observed between the attorney and the counsel in a cause, the former being employed in the management iof 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.

The players can not keep counsel: they 'll tell all. --Shak.

Syn: Advice; consideration; consultation; purpose; scheme; opinion.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Counsel

Coun"sel\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counseled (-s?ld) 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. --Shak.

2. To advise or recommend, as an act or course.

They who counsel war. --Milton.

Thus Belial, with words clothed in reson's garb, Counseled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth. --Milton.

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