counsel
English edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”).
Noun edit
counsel (countable and uncountable, plural counsels or counsel)
- The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
- 1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “The Introites, Collectes, Epistles, and Gospels to be Used at the Celebracion of the Lordes Supper & Holy Communion, throughe the Yeare: With Proper Psalmes, and Lessons for Diuers Feastes and Dayes”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC, folio viia, recto:
- Bleſſed is that man that hath not walked in the counſaile of the vngodly: nor ſtand in the waye of ſynners, and hath not ſit in the ſeate of ſkornefull.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:1:
- All the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.
- 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.
- Advice; guidance.
- c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
- I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised.
- 1678, John Bunyan, “The Author’s Apology for His Book”, in The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, […], 1928, →OCLC:
- This Book will make a Travailer of thee, / If by its Counſel thou wilt ruled be; / It will direct thee to the Holy Land, / If thou wilt its Directions understand: / Yea, it will make the ſloathful, active be; / The Blind alſo, delightful things to ſee.
- 1847, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page number, or |part=Prologue, I to VII, or conclusion)”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
- It was ill counsel had misled the girl.
- 1990, Leung Yuen-sang, The Shanghai Taotai: Linkage Man in a Changing Society, 1843-90[1], University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 58:
- Further, he suggested strategies and gave counsel to his superiors at Soochow and Ch'ang-chou. (The Governor-General resided temporarily in Ch'ang-chou after the Taiping capture of Nanking in 1853.)
- Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 33:11:
- The counsel of the Lord standeth forever.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 12:5:
- The counsels of the wicked are deceit.
- A lawyer, as in King's Counsel (KC) or Queen's Counsel (QC).
Usage notes edit
- The prescribed plural is unchanged counsel in the sense “lawyer”, otherwise counsels.
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:advice
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
consultation
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advice
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deliberate purpose
lawyer
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Etymology 2 edit
From Middle English counseilen, from Old French conseiller, from Latin cōnsilior, from cōnsilium.
Verb edit
counsel (third-person singular simple present counsels, present participle counselling or counseling, simple past and past participle counselled or counseled)
- (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.
- (transitive) To recommend (a course of action).
- I would counsel prudence in this matter.
- 2019, Colson Whitehead, The Nickel Boys, Fleet, page 10:
- He counseled his daughter to resist the lure of hatred and bitterness.
Synonyms edit
- See also Thesaurus:advise
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
to give advice, especially professional advice
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to recommend
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See also edit
Anagrams edit
Middle English edit
Noun edit
counsel
- a secret opinion or purpose; a private matter
- c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volumes (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:
- thilke lord […] to whom no counsel may be hid
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)