# counsel
## English
### Pronunciation

* enPR: kounʹ-səl, IPA: /ˈkaʊn.səl/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -aʊnsəl
* Homophone: council

### Etymology 1

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

#### Noun

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: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, 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

* The prescribed plural is unchanged counsel in the sense “lawyer”, otherwise counsels.

##### Synonyms

* See also Thesaurus:advice

##### Derived terms

* counsel of despair
* counsel of perfection
* general counsel
* independent counsel
* keep counsel
* of counsel
* right of counsel
* Senior Counsel
* special counsel

##### Translations
### Etymology 2

From Middle English counseilen, from Old French conseiller, from Latin cōnsilior, from cōnsilium.

#### Verb

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

* See also Thesaurus:advise

##### Derived terms

* cocounsel
* counselee
* counsellee
* keep one's counsel
* keep one's own counsel
* miscounsel
* precounsel
* uncounselled

##### Related terms

* counselable, counsellable
* counseling, counselling
* counselor, counsellor

##### Translations
### See also

* council

### Anagrams

* conules, leucons, unclose

## Middle English
### Noun

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, volume (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)