counsel

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊns(ə)l/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] advice, especially that given formally: with wise counsel a couple can buy a home that will be appreciating in value [count noun]: for the public, simple counsels of more patience are not enough
  • archaic consultation, especially to seek or give advice: he took much counsel with him
  • 2 (plural ) a barrister or other legal adviser conducting a case: the counsel for the defence

verb (counsels, counselling, counselled; US counsels, counseling, counseled)

[with object]
  • give advice to (someone): careers officers should counsel young people in making their career decisions
  • give professional help and advice to (someone) to resolve personal or psychological problems: he was being counselled for depression
  • recommend (a course of action): the athlete’s coach counselled caution

Phrases

a counsel of despair

an action to be taken when all else fails: not to build because we are short of doctors would be a counsel of despair

a counsel of perfection

advice that is ideal but not feasible: while it may be a counsel of perfection, it must be advisable for the insurer to attempt to investigate each claim

keep one's own counsel

say nothing about what one thinks or plans: she doubted what he said but kept her own counsel

take counsel

discuss a problem: the party leader and chairman took counsel together

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French counseil (noun), conseiller (verb), from Latin consilium 'consultation, advice', related to consulere (see consult). Compare with council

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (counsels, counselling, counselled).

Do not confuse council with counsel. Council means 'a group of people who manage an area or advise on something' ( the city council), whereas counsel means 'advice' or 'advise' ( we counselled him on estate planning).