• synonyms


[koun-suh l]
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noun, plural coun·sel for 3.
  3. Law. (used with a singular or plural verb) the advocate or advocates engaged in the direction of a cause in court; a legal adviser or counselor: Is counsel for the defense present?
  4. deliberate purpose; plan; design.
  6. Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.
  7. Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.
verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
  1. to give advice to; advise.
  2. to urge the adoption of, as a course of action; recommend (a plan, policy, etc.): He counseled patience during the crisis.
verb (used without object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
  1. to give counsel or advice.
  2. to get or take counsel or advice.
  1. keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.
  2. take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.

Origin of counsel

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English counseil < Anglo-French cunseil, Old French conseil < Latin consilium “debate, advice, advisory body, plan,” equivalent to consil-, variant stem of consulere “to apply for advice” (see consult) + -ium -ium; (verb) < Anglo-French cunseiler (Old French conseillier) < Late Latin consiliāre, derivative of consilium
Related formscoun·sel·a·ble; especially British, coun·sel·la·ble, adjectivepre·coun·sel, noun, verb, pre·coun·seled, pre·coun·sel·ing or (especially British) pre·coun·selled, pre·coun·sel·ling.re·coun·sel, verb (used with object), re·coun·seled, re·coun·sel·ing or (especially British) re·coun·selled, re·coun·sel·ling.un·coun·seled, adjectiveun·coun·selled, adjectivewell-coun·seled, adjectivewell-coun·selled, adjective
Can be confusedconsul council counsel (see usage note at council)


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1. recommendation, suggestion. 3. lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

Synonym study

1. See advice.

Usage note

See council.

Examples from the Web for counsel

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for counsel


  1. advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
  2. discussion, esp on future procedure; consultationto 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 matterscounsel for the prosecution
  5. a policy or plan
  7. counsel of perfection excellent but unrealizable advice
  8. private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)
  9. archaic wisdom; prudence
verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled
  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
Derived Formscounsellable or US counselable, adjective

Word Origin

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


Avoid confusion with council

Word Origin and History for counsel




late 13c., from Old French conseiller "to advise, counsel," from Latin consiliari, from consilium "plan, opinion" (see counsel (n.)). Related: Counseled. Counseling "giving professional advice on social or psychological problems" dates from 1940.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with counsel

