coun·sel   (koun'səl)    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.]

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.

counsel  (n.)

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>

Main Entry: ¹coun·sel
Pronunciation: 'kaun(t)-s&l
Function: noun
: advice given especially as a result of consultation

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.