English Dictionary

Definition of “counsel”

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counsel (ˈkaʊnsəlPronunciation for counsel) 

Definitions

noun

  1. advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
  2. discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation  ⇒ to 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 matters  ⇒ counsel 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. See counsel of perfection
  8. private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)
  9. archaic wisdom; prudence

verb

  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
council

Alternative Forms

ˈcounsellable ˈcounselable adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Old French counseil,  from Latin consilium deliberating body; related to consul, consult

Usage examples

  • I suppose that's something we have to look at, learned counsel.
    Jane Asher, LOSING IT (2002)
  • The service is seen as an alternative support system where experts counsel without a hint of bias or getting too personal.
    India Today (2002)
  • As counsel finished his questions, Dr Paisley drew attention to a speech he made in Stormont shortly after the events of Bloody Sunday.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Vance entered civilian government service in 1957 when he served as special counsel for Senate Armed Services sub-committee on preparedness.
    Glasgow Herald (2002)
  • Some authorities counsel a more detailed approach by prescribing a checklist of questions to be asked.
    Torrington, Derek, Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'C'

Related Terms

4 results

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