counsel
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: kounʹ-səl
ipa: /ˈkaʊn.səl/
rhymes: -aʊnsəl
homophone: council
Forms: form: counsels
form: counsel
Etymology: From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”).
Senses: examples: text: 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.
ref: 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:
text: All the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 27:1:
glosses: The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
examples: text: They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that counsel is used.
ref: 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):
glosses: Exercise of judgment; prudence.
examples: text: I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised.
ref: 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]:
text: 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.
ref: 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:
text: It was ill counsel had misled the girl.
ref: 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:
text: 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.)
ref: 1990, Leung Yuen-sang, The Shanghai Taotai: Linkage Man in a Changing Society, 1843-90, University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 58:
glosses: Advice; guidance.
examples: text: The counsel of the Lord standeth forever.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 33:11:
text: The counsels of the wicked are deceit.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 12:5:
glosses: Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
glosses: A lawyer, as in King's Counsel (KC) or Queen's Counsel (QC).
Derived terms: counsel of despair
counsel of perfection
general counsel
independent counsel
keep counsel
of counsel
right of counsel
Senior Counsel
special counsel