counsel

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English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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

Noun

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counsel (countable and uncountable, plural counsels or counsel)

  1. The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
  2. Exercise of judgment; prudence.
    • 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, [], London: [] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
      They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that counsel is used.
  3. Advice; guidance.
  4. Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
  5. A lawyer, as in King's Counsel (KC) or Queen's Counsel (QC).
Usage notes
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  • The prescribed plural is unchanged counsel in the sense “lawyer”, otherwise counsels.
Synonyms
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Derived terms
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Translations
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Etymology 2

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From Middle English counseilen, from Old French conseiller, from Latin cōnsilior, from cōnsilium.

Verb

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

  1. (transitive) To give advice, especially professional advice, to (somebody).
    The lawyer counselled his client to remain silent.
    Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals counsel clients.
  2. (transitive) To recommend (a course of action).
    I would counsel prudence in this matter.
Synonyms
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Translations
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See also

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Anagrams

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Middle English

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Noun

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counsel

  1. a secret opinion or purpose; a private matter