counsel

[koun-suh l] /ˈkaʊn səl/
noun, plural counsel for 3.
1.
advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.
2.
interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.
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.
5.
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.
6.
Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.
7.
Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.
verb (used with object), counseled, counseling or (especially British) counselled, counselling.
8.
to give advice to; advise.
9.
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), counseled, counseling or (especially British) counselled, counselling.
10.
to give counsel or advice.
11.
to get or take counsel or advice.
Idioms
12.
keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.
13.
take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.
Origin
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; (v.) < Anglo-French cunseiler (Old French conseillier) < Late Latin consiliāre, derivative of consilium
Related forms
counselable; especially British, counsellable, adjective
precounsel, noun, verb, precounseled, precounseling or (especially British) precounselled, precounselling.
recounsel, verb (used with object), recounseled, recounseling or (especially British) recounselled, recounselling.
uncounseled, adjective
uncounselled, adjective
well-counseled, adjective
well-counselled, adjective
Can be confused
attorney, counsel, counselor, lawyer, litigator.
consul, council, counsel (see usage note at council)
Synonyms
1. recommendation, suggestion. See advice. 3. lawyer, attorney; solicitor, barrister.
Usage note
See council.
British Dictionary definitions for keep one's own counsel

counsel

/ˈkaʊnsəl/
noun
1.
advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc
2.
discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation: to 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 matters: counsel for the prosecution
5.
a policy or plan
6.
(Christianity) any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels, namely poverty, chastity, and obedience
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, -selled (US) -sels, -seling, -seled
10.
(transitive) to give advice or guidance to
11.
(transitive; often takes a clause as object) to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge
12.
(intransitive) (archaic) to take counsel; consult
Derived Forms
counsellable, (US) counselable, adjective
council
Word Origin
C13: from Old French counseil, from Latin consilium deliberating body; related to consul, consult
Word Origin and History for keep one's own counsel

counsel

n.

early 13c., from Old French counseil (10c.) "advice, counsel; deliberation, thought," from Latin consilium "plan, opinion" (see consultation). As a synonym for "lawyer," first attested late 14c.

v.

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.

Idioms and Phrases with keep one's own counsel

keep one's own counsel

Say little or nothing about one's opinions or intentions. For example, Betty is notorious for keeping her own counsel; you never know what she really thinks. This expression employs counsel in the sense of “a secret,” a usage dating from about 1300.

counsel

see: keep one's own counsel