counsel

[ koun-suhl ]

/ ˈkaʊn səl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR counsel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural coun·sel for 3.

advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.

interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.

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?

deliberate purpose; plan; design.

Theology. one of the advisory declarations of Christ, considered by some Christians as not universally binding but as given for aid in attaining moral perfection.

Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.

Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.

verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

to give advice to; advise.

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.

to give counsel or advice.

to get or take counsel or advice.

Idioms for counsel

keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.

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

SYNONYMS FOR counsel

1 recommendation, suggestion.

3 lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR counsel ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for counsel

1. See advice.

usage note for counsel

See council.

OTHER WORDS FROM counsel

coun·sel·a·ble; especially British, coun·sel·la·ble, adjective pre·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, adjective

un·coun·selled, adjective well-coun·seled, adjective well-coun·selled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH counsel

consul council counsel (see usage note at council)

Words nearby counsel

councilman body, councilmember, councilor, councilperson, councilwoman, counsel, counselee, counseling, counselling, counsellor, counselor

Definition for counselling (2 of 2)

counseling

or coun·sel·ling

[ koun-suh-ling ]

/ ˈkaʊn sə lɪŋ /

noun Psychology.

professional guidance in resolving personal conflicts and emotional problems.

Origin of counseling

counsel + -ing¹

Example sentences from the Web for counselling

After counselling them in brief words to apply to him whenever they were in difficulty, he disappeared in the pool.

Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 3 (of 3) |James Athearn Jones
Now, in counselling opposition of the most determined nature to any such attempt, we are actuated by no factious spirit.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, No. 421, November 1850 |Various
Come thou to this house with a gracious heart, come with counselling Zeus, and lend grace to my song.

The Homeric Hymns |Andrew Lang
He believed that his best chance of political salvation lay in counselling his master to grant the petition of Parliament.

Henrietta Maria |Henrietta Haynes

For you were capable, my dear Horace, of counselling statesmen.

Dialogues of the Dead |Lord Lyttelton

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (1 of 2)

counselling

US counseling

/ (ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ) /

noun

guidance offered by social workers, doctors, etc, to help a person resolve social or personal problems

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (2 of 2)

counsel

/ (ˈkaʊnsəl) /

noun

advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc

discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation to take counsel with a friend

a person whose advice or guidance is or has been sought

a barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in court and advising on legal matters counsel for the prosecution

a policy or plan

Christianity any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels, namely poverty, chastity, and obedience

counsel of perfection excellent but unrealizable advice

private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel)

archaic wisdom; prudence

verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled

(tr) to give advice or guidance to

(tr; often takes a clause as object) to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge

(intr) archaic to take counsel; consult

Derived forms of counsel

counsellable or US counselable, adjective

Word Origin for counsel

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

undefined counsel

Avoid confusion with council

Idioms and Phrases with counselling

counsel

see keep one's own counsel.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

counsel

noun, plural coun·sel for 3.

verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

verb (used without object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

Idioms for counsel

Origin of counsel

SYNONYMS FOR counsel

synonym study for counsel

usage note for counsel

OTHER WORDS FROM counsel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH counsel

Words nearby counsel

Definition for counselling (2 of 2)

or coun·sel·ling

noun Psychology.

Origin of counseling

Example sentences from the Web for counselling

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (1 of 2)

US counseling

noun

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (2 of 2)

noun

verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled

Derived forms of counsel

Word Origin for counsel

undefined counsel

Idioms and Phrases with counselling

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

counsel

noun, plural coun·sel for 3.

verb (used with object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

verb (used without object), coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.

Idioms for counsel

Origin of counsel

SYNONYMS FOR counsel

synonym study for counsel

usage note for counsel

OTHER WORDS FROM counsel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH counsel

Words nearby counsel

Definition for counselling (2 of 2)

or coun·sel·ling

noun Psychology.

Origin of counseling

Words related to counselling

Example sentences from the Web for counselling

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (1 of 2)

US counseling

noun

British Dictionary definitions for counselling (2 of 2)

noun

verb -sels, -selling or -selled or US -sels, -seling or -seled

Derived forms of counsel

Word Origin for counsel

undefined counsel

Idioms and Phrases with counselling