Definition of 'counsel'

Word Frequency

counsel

(kaʊnsəl )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense counsels , present participle counselling , past tense, past participle counselled regional note: in AM, use counseling, counseled

1. uncountable noun

Counsel is advice.

[formal]

He had always been able to count on her wise counsel.

His parishioners sought his counsel and loved him.

Synonyms: advice, information, warning, direction More Synonyms of counsel

2. verb

If you counsel someone to take a course of action, or if you counsel a course of action, you advise that course of action.

[formal]

My advisers counselled me to do nothing. [VERB noun to-infinitive]

The prime minister was right to counsel caution about military intervention. [VERB noun]

[Also VERB with quote]

Synonyms: advise, recommend, advocate, prescribe More Synonyms of counsel

3. verb

If you counsel people, you give them advice about their problems.

...a psychologist who counsels people with eating disorders. [VERB noun]

Crawford counsels her on all aspects of her career. [VERB noun + on]

[Also V on n]

4. countable noun

Someone's counsel is the lawyer who gives them advice on a legal case and speaks on their behalf in court.

Singleton's counsel said after the trial that he would appeal.

The defence counsel warned that the judge should stop the trial.

Synonyms: legal adviser, lawyer, attorney, solicitor More Synonyms of counsel

See keep one's own counsel

Video: pronunciation of
counsel

counsel in British English

(ˈkaʊnsəl )

noun

advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc

discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation

to take counsel with a friend

a person whose advice or guidance is or has been sought

a barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in court and advising on legal matters

counsel for the prosecution

a policy or plan

6. Christianity

any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels, namely poverty, chastity, and obedience

7. counsel of perfection

private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)

9. archaic

wisdom; prudence

verbWord forms: -sels, -selling, -selledWord forms: US -sels, -seling or -seled

10. (transitive)

to give advice or guidance to

11. (tr; often takes a clause as object)

to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge

12. (intransitive) archaic

to take counsel; consult

▶ USAGE Avoid confusion with council

Derived forms

counsellable (ˈcounsellable) or US counselable (ˈcounselable)

adjective

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

counsel in American English

(ˈkaʊnsəl )

noun

a mutual exchange of ideas, opinions, etc.; discussion and deliberation

advice resulting from such an exchange

any advice

a lawyer or group of lawyers giving advice about legal matters and representing clients in court

anyone whose advice is sought; consultant

4. Archaic

intention or resolution; purpose

5. Archaic

wisdom or judgment

6. Obsolete

a confidential idea, plan, etc.; secret

verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcounseled or ˈcounselled, ˈcounseling or ˈcounselling

to give advice to; advise

to urge the acceptance of (an action, plan, etc.); recommend

verb intransitive

to give or take advice

SIMILAR WORDS: adˈvise, ˈlawyer

Idioms:

keep one's own counsel

take counsel

Word origin

ME & OFr counseil < L consilium (for base see consult); confused in ME with council

Example sentences including
counsel

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Walter looked at a loss in his own home; at a Bar table there would have been papers to shuffle, junior counsel to consult.I suppose that's something we have to look at, learned counsel.A novice defending counsel could get you off on the grounds of mental incapacity! Regardless, Pam was responding well to the advice and counsel of her new friend.