counsel

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

• enPR: kounʹ-səl, IPA^(key): /ˈkaʊn.səl/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -aʊnsəl
• Homophone: council

counsel (countable and uncountable, plural counsels)

1. 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.

2. Exercise of judgment; prudence.
   • 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, J[ohn] S[penser], editor, 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.
   • 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.

4. 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.

5. A lawyer, as in King's Counsel (KC) or Queen's Counsel (QC).

In the sense 'lawyer', the word is usually uncountable, counsel meaning one lawyer or many (not counsels).

• See also Thesaurus:advice

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.

   • 2019, Colson Whitehead, The Nickel Boys, Fleet, page 10:

     He counseled his daughter to resist the lure of hatred and bitterness.

• See also Thesaurus:advise

• council

• conules, leucons, unclose

counsel

1. a secret opinion or purpose; a private matter
   • c. 1386–1390, John Gower, Reinhold Pauli, editor, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:

     thilke lord […] to whom no counsel may be hid