▪ I. counsel, n.
(ˈkaʊnsɪl)
Forms: 3–6 con-, counseil, -seyl, -sail, -sayl, (-seile, -seille, -seyle, -saile, -saille, -sayle, etc.; also 4–5 cun-, cown-, koun-, kown-); 5–7 counsell, (-al, -all, -ale, etc.); 4– counsel: about 40 variants. Also 4–5 con-, coun-, etc., -cel, -cele, -ceil, etc.; 5–7 councell, 6–8 -cel, 7–8 -cil: about 15 variants.
[ME. con-, counseil, -ail, -ayl, a. OF. conseil, cunseil, in AFr. counseil (= Pr. conselh, Cat. consell, Sp. consejo, Pg. conseglo, It. consiglio):—L. consilium consultation, plan decided on as the result of consultation, advice, counsel, advising faculty, prudence; a deliberating body, a council of state, war, etc.; a counsellor: a word of the same type as colloquium, connubium, etc., f. consulĕre to deliberate, etc., f. con- together + *sal- a root found also in consul, consulto, and prob. cognate with Skr. sar- to go. The various senses are retained in French; but in English, those meaning a deliberating body are now written council, by confusion with L. concilium.]
I. 1. a. Interchange of opinions on a matter of procedure; consultation, deliberation. to take counsel: to consult, deliberate.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 59/202 A-mong þis Cardinales counseil þere was i-nome. a 1340 Hampole Psalter xii. 2 How lange sall I sett counsails in my hert of diuerse thynges. c 1450 Merlin x. 141 After mete Arthur & Merlin went togeder to counseile. 1539 Bible (Great) John xi. 53 Then from that daye forth they toke counsell together, for to put him to deeth. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 258 There were great counsayles betwene the King and Jaques Dartnell, on the one parte, and the Counsayles of the good townes of the other part. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 11, I hold as little counsaile with weake feare, As you. 1611 Bible Job xxxviii. 2 Who is this that darkneth counsell by words without knowledge? 1710 Prideaux Orig. Tithes i. 9 No time..for that Counsel and Consideration which is requisite. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc viii. 576 Time was not for long counsel. 1871 Morley Voltaire (1886) 11 There are..eras of counsel and eras of execution. 1879 C. M. Yonge Cameos Ser. iv. vi. 72 He found old Lefévre, and took much counsel with him. |
† b. Conference, conversation. Obs. rare.
| a 1350 Leben Jesu (ed. Horstmann) 79 (Mätz.) Nuste no man ȝwat it was, þat conseil longe ilaste. Ibid. 340 Þa comen þe apostles, and þouȝten wonder þat he wolde suych conseil drawe Mid a womman þat sunfol was. |
2. a. Opinion as to what ought to be done given as the result of consultation; aid or instruction for directing the judgement; advice, direction.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 70 Ne no mon ne aski ou read ne counsail. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 111/169 Heo ȝaf him conseil þane wei to gon. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 315 Triste we to god þat he wole ȝiue us concel in þis. c 1386 Chaucer Melib. ¶207 Taak no conseil of a fool. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. x, The kyng asked counceil at hem al. 1542 Boorde Dyetary Pref. (1870) 226 Without the counceyl [1547 counsell] of Mayster doctour Butte. 1579 Gosson Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 70 If plaiers take a little more counsell of their pillowe, they shall finde them selues to be the worste..people in the world. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. (1839) 241 Counsel, is where a man saith, do, or do not this, and deduceth his reasons from the benefit that arriveth by it to him to whom he saith it. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 185 ¶1 The counsels of philosophy and the injunctions of religion. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. I. vi. 142 Both princes..hearkened the more willingly to the councils of Anselm. 1874 Green Short Hist. viii. 487 The failure of the more moderate counsels for which his own had been set aside. |
b. spec. in Theol. One of the advisory declarations of Christ and the apostles, in mediæval theology reckoned as twelve, which are considered not to be universally binding, but to be given as a means of attaining greater moral perfection; so counsel of perfection, esp. in reference to Matt. xix. 21; also transf.; evangelical counsels, the three obligations of voluntary poverty, chastity, and obedience to a religious superior (see quot. 1875).
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 2 Ȝif men wolen..kepe þe counseilis of Crist, loke þat þei croken not from him. 1450–1530 Myrr. Our Ladye 139 By the nombre of xxii ys vnderstonde the x commaundementes and the xii counsaylles of the gospell. Ibid. 140 The commaundementes of oure lorde that all must kepe that wyll be saued..The counsayles that longe to relygyous & to folke of perfeccyon. 1577 T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 85 marg., The Papistes diuide the gospell into precepts and counsels. To the preceptes men are bound (say they), but not to the counsels. 1649 Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Exhort. §8 Although some men did acts of Counsel in order to attain that perfection which in Jesus was essential and unalterable. a 1678 Scougal Life of God in Soul of Man (1726) 169 We must not look upon this..as a counsel of perfection, highly commendable, but not absolutely necessary to salvation. 1863 Keble Life Bp. Wilson xii. 405 This..which the tenor of her life may justify us in calling no extravagance of pietism, but a real counsel of perfection. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost xii. 330 But the life of counsels—that is the life of poverty, the life of chastity, the life of obedience, which is the life of the priesthood, and the life of those who enter convents. 1885 Catholic Dict. 325/1 The high estimation in which the Fathers held the evangelical counsels. 1886 Earl Selborne Def. Ch. Eng. iii. xvii. §3. 297 A tendency..to elevate counsels of perfection into laws of bondage. 1909 A. Bennett Literary Taste 87 Every Englishman who is interested in any branch of his native literature, and who respects himself, ought to own a comprehensive and inclusive library of English literature, in comely and adequate editions. You may suppose that this counsel is a counsel of perfection. It is not. 1938 W. S. Maugham Summing Up xlviii. 186 Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul. This is a counsel of perfection. |
c. Phr. counsel of despair.
| 1910 G. B. Shaw Let. to G. Barker Jan. (1956) 162 It is only the 4th Jan, too soon for counsels of despair. 1929 R. Bridges Test. Beauty ii. 229 All Utopias Are castles in the air or counsels of despair. |
3. The faculty of counselling or advising; judgement; prudence; sagacity in the devising of plans. Obs. or arch.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 412 He was queynte of conseyl & speche, & of body strong. a 1300 Cursor M. 29205 (Cott.) Þe gift o wijt, of vnder-standing, o consail. 1382 Wyclif Isa. xi. 2 And ther shal resten vp on hym the Spirit of the Lord..spirit of counseil and of strengthe. c 1400 Sowdone Bab. 367 Tho by-spake a worthy man of counsaile, An Erille of the Senatouris. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 457 Laulie and meik and of consall rycht gude. 1611 Bible Job xii. 13 With him is wisedome & strength, he hath counsell and vnderstanding. 1653 H. More Antid. Ath. ii. i. (1712) 38 Things are so framed that they naturally imply a Principle of Wisdom and Counsel in the Author of them. |
4. That in which deliberation results; resolution, purpose, intention; plan, design, scheme.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 371 Hii..were alle at conseyl to worry Engelond. 1382 Wyclif Ps. xxxii[i]. 11 The counseill forsothe of the Lord withoute ende abit. c 1450 Merlin xiv. 202 He ne kowde no counseile how he myght his londe deffende. 1534 Tindale Acts ii. 23 Delivered by the determinat counsell and foreknoweledge of God. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Pref. 5 His prouidence and consailles unscrutable. 1600 Holland Livy vii. xx. 262 Would any man impute it rather to deliberate counsell, than to some fit of heat and follie? 1680 Burnet Rochester (1692) 84 We who cannot fathom the secrets of the Councel of God. 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. §15. 55 The secret counsels of the Infinite Mind. |
† 5. a. A private or secret purpose, design, or opinion. Obs. (exc. as in d).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3161 (Cott.) His consail will he naman tell. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 683 How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro Habraham þe trwe, Þat I ne dyscouered to his corse my counsayle so dere. 1473 J. Warkworth Chron. 9 There cownselle was dyscoverede. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 776 Many thought that thys Duke was privie to all the Protectors counsayle. 1607 Shakes. Cor. i. ii. 2 They of Rome are entred in our Counsailes, And know how we proceede. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 229 By diligent watchfulness discover their [Enemies'] approaches or counsels. |
† b. A matter of confidence or secrecy; a secret; a confidence. Obs. (exc. as in d).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27886 (Cotton Galba) Dronkinhede..mase oft kounsail to be talde. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 157 Þat þat wommen witeth may nouȝte wel be conseille! c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 2784 To sayn soþ of þy make, Hit ne may beo no consail; þe Sarazyns him habbeþ itake. c 1386 Chaucer Wife's T. 110 But natheles hir thoughte that sche dyde, That sche so long a counseil scholde hyde. c 1450 Crt. of Love 722 But this is counsaile, keepe it secretly, (Quod she). c 1460 Play Sacram. 522 Charge yow euerychoon That yt be conselle that we haue doon. 1530 Palsgr. 208/1 Counsell, secret. 1613 Massinger Dk. Milan iii. i, Nay, it is no counsel, You may partake it, gentlemen. |
† c. in counsel: in private, in confidence. Obs.
| c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xii. 137 He leet voyden out of his chambre all maner of men..for he wolde speke with me in conseill. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xx. i, Thenne sir Agrauayne sayd thus openly and not in no counceylle. 1535 Coverdale Job iv. 12 There is spoken unto me a thynge in councell. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 122 Shal. The Councell shall know this. Fal. 'Twere better for you if it were known in councell: you'll be laugh'd at. 1638 Ford Fancies i. iii, A pastime smiled at Amongst yourselves in counsel; but beware Of being overheard. |
d. † to keep or hold (a matter) counsel (later in counsel): to keep it secret (obs.). to keep († hold) counsel: to observe secrecy (arch. and dial.). to keep any one's counsel: to keep a secret which he has committed to one (arch. or obs.). to keep one's (own) counsel: to keep one's own secret, be reticent about one's intentions or opinions.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 27411 (Cott.) Þe sin þat said es to þe preist he hald it consail euer in breist. c 1450 Erle Tolous 582 Madam, your trowthe ys plyght, To holde counsayle, bothe day and nyght. c 1450 Merlin i. 16 This may not be kepte counseill. 1470–85 Malory Arthur viii. xxxviii, He kepeth it no counceil but that he is a knyghte of Kynge Arthurs. Ibid. xii. v, Kepe hit in counceylle and let noo man knowe hit in the world. 1474 Caxton Chesse 16 It is comyn prouerbe that women can kepe no counceyl. c 1550 Bale K. Johan (Camden) 26 Kepe y{supt} counsell, dane Davy Dyssymulacyon. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 168 Three may kepe councell if twayne be away. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 217 Women and children keepe that in counsel whereof they are ignorant. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iv. ii. 11 Do not beleeue it..That I can keepe your counsel, and not mine owne. 1611 Bible Ecclus. viii. 17 Consult not with a foole; for he cannot keepe counsell. 1641 Brome Jov. Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 374 We..have kept all your councels ever since we have been Infant Play⁓fellows. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 12 ¶1, I am the best Man in the World to keep my own Counsel. 1757 Foote Author i. Wks. 1799 I. 136 Don't be afraid; I'll keep council. 1818 Byron Juan i. lxviii, I'm really puzzled what to think or say, She kept her counsel in so close a way. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 584 William kept his own counsel so well that not a hint of his intention got abroad. |
† 6. of counsel with or for (a person), in, with or to (an act, etc.): in the counsels, confidence, or secrets of; one of the advisers of (a person); privy to (an act). Obs.
| 1425 Paston Lett. No. 5 I. 22, I prey yow..that..ye will..defenden the seyd sutes..and to be of owr counseill in these matieres. 1530 Palsgr. 424/1, I am cheife a [= of] counsayle with one je suis de son segret priué. 1530 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 89 And noon of them other to blame or off councell w{supt} that lewed dede. 1535 Coverdale Job xxxvii. 15 Art thou of councel with God? 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John 20 b, A thing priuie and of councel to his first fault. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 783 She was a [= of] counsaile with the Lorde Hastynges to destroy him. 1633 Ford 'Tis Pity v. vi, Say, fellow, know'st thou any yet unnam'd Of council in this incest? 1683 A. Snape Anat. Horse i. i. (1686) 69 Aristotle..was in his time thought to be the nearest of counsel to Nature. 1689 Tryal Bps. 3 This Writ was granted upon our Motion, who are of Councel for the King. |
II. † 7. a. An assembly or body of advisers. Obs. Now council 4 and 6 q.v.
| 1297 [see council 6; also 4 and 6 for other quots.]. a 1300 Cursor M. 24793 (Cott.) His consail badd him for to faand, þe king of danemerk wit saand. c 1305 Pilate 38 in E.E.P. (1862) 112 He wolde him sle, ac his consail ne ȝaf him noȝt þerto. 1549 Coverdale Erasm. Par. II. Ded. 1 The..wholesome advyce and ministerie, of your noble uncle and counsail. |
b. A single person with whom one consults or advises; a counsellor. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 289, I..tolde thee my wo As to my conseil and to my brother sworn. 1647 Ward Simp. Cobler 54 Will you follow your very worst Councell so farre, as to provoke your very best? 1654 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) II. 134 Lo. Digby was soe much the ablest Councell to the King. |
8. a. A body of legal advisers, engaged in the direction or conduct of a cause. (Usually a collective plural, but sometimes treated as a numeral plural; formerly, in ‘to desire the benefit of counsel’, ‘to be allowed counsel’, etc., treated as a collective sing.: cf. quot. 1681.)
(In this sense erroneously stated in many legal text-books to be ‘an abbreviation of counsellor’.)
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 155 Help, that I hadde counseil here Upon the trouthe of my matere. And Julius with that anone Assigned him a worthy one. 1425 Paston Lett. No. 5. I. 20, I have, by advys of counseill in making a procuracie to yow. 1592 Greene Art Conny Catch. ii. 15 Carefull to see his counsell, and to ply his Atturney. 1642 Perkins Prof. Bk. xi. 341 As shall bee devised by the Councell learned in the Law. 1666 Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 219 The Lords did insist that he should have Counsel, which the Commons would not suffer. Ibid. IV. 280 The second of our three Counsel was the best. 1681 Trial S. Colledge 9 In Misdemeanour Councel is to be allowed for the Prisoner, but not in Treason. 1709 Calverley in Yorksh. Diaries (Surtees) II. 122 Council for Mr. Hackett were lawyers Adams and Wickham..for Mr. Wilson..councils, Mr. Thornton of Leeds, and Mr. Rawson of Bradford. 1739 Cibber Apol. (1756) II. 62 Two of the learned Council against us came afterwards to be successively Lord Chancellors. 1837 Penny Cycl. VIII. 106/2 The duty of counsel is to give advice in questions of law, and to manage causes for clients. They are styled common law, equity, or chamber counsel, according to the nature of the business they transact. 1883 Sir T. Martin Ld. Lyndhurst v. 139 The most formidable array of counsel that was ever banded together for a criminal prosecution. |
b. as sing. (rarely with pl. counsels): A single legal adviser; a counsellor-at-law, advocate, or barrister.
| 1709 [see prec.]. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 429 Because a Council of the other Side asserted it was coming down. 1789 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 37 They have..charged one of their ablest counsels with the preparation of a memoir to establish this. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xii. 99 An advocate..the first counsel in Edinburgh. |
c. King's (Queen's) Counsel: barristers appointed (on the nomination of the lord-chancellor) counsel to the crown; they take precedence of ordinary barristers, and wear a silk instead of a stuff gown; also a member of this body. (Abbreviated K.C., Q.C.)
| 1689 Tryal Bps. 2 It is our Duty, who are the King's Councel..to prosecute such kind of Offences. 1797 W. Tone Autobiog. (1828) 79 Two lawyers of great eminence..King's Counsel. 1863 H. Cox Instit. ii. iii. 375 Queen's Council or her Majesty's Counsel..as servants of the Crown, must not be employed in any cause against its interest, without special license of the Crown, which is however never refused. 1892 Newspr., Mr. Lockwood, Q.C. defended. |
9. Comb., as counsel-giver, counsel-giving, counsel-keeping; counsel-keeper, one who is entrusted with designs, secrets, etc. by another; a confidant.
| 1535 Coverdale 2 Chron. xxii. 4 They were his councell geuers after his fathers death. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 24 And Curtain'd with a Counsaile-keeping Caue. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 290 And looke whether the fierie Trigon..be not lisping to his Masters old Tables, his Note-Booke, his Councell-keeper? 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Abogac{iacu}a, pleading, counsell giuing, the profession of an aduocate. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 476 She was not of..my counsell-keepers. 1828 C. Wordsworth Chas. I 246 That counsel-giving to the King. |
▪ II. counsel, v.
(ˈkaʊnsɪl)
Forms (more than 30): 3 conseill-en, 3–6 vars. in con-, coun-, (4–5 cown-), -seil, -sail(l, etc., as in n.; 5–6 counsell, 4– counsel. Also 4–6 counceil, -cell, -cel, etc.
[ME. conseillen, a. F. conseiller (= Pr. cosseillar, cosselhar, OSp. consejar, It. consigliare):—late L. consiliāre, for cl. L. consiliārī to be a counsellor, to counsel, f. consilium: see prec.]
1. to counsel a person: to give or offer (him) counsel or advice; to advise.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 214 He bygan hem rede; And in þys batayle to conseyly, and þes wordes seyde. a 1300 Cursor M. 7991 (Gött.) Comyn i am þe to consayle, þu folu it, and it sal þe vayle. 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5943 To counsaile þam þat askes counsayle. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 3817 He counseld þe childes fader. 1474 Caxton Chesse 25 Theyr offyce is for to counceylle the kyng. 1535 Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 27 Ye shall truly councell the king and his chauncellour..in al thinges concerning the same. 1607 Shakes. Cor. iii. ii. 28 Pray be counsail'd. 1789 Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. II. 71 [He] has neither sense to counsel himself nor to choose counsellors for himself, much less to counsel others. 1842 Lytton Zanoni 27 Since we have thus met, I will pause to counsel you. |
b. with constructions and adverbial extensions, expressing the matter or tenor of the advice.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3450 (Gött.) To consail hir quat were best. Ibid. 3751 (Gött.) Consail me fader, how to liue. Ibid. 24213 (Fairf.) Counsail me vn-to þe best. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 70, I you counseile That ye it kepe. c 1400 Destr. Troy 9804 He counceld the kynges to kayre into grece. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 43, I counseylle you that ye tourne agayn. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. i. 83, I will goe..And counsaile him to fight against his passion. a 1843 Southey Inscriptions xxii, Men who counsell'd him To offer terms. 1863 Mrs. C. Clarke Shaks. Char. xv. 376 The weakly unjust king will not be counselled to his own honour and interest. 1871 Weymouth Euph. 10 Euphues counsels ladies to cultivate good-nature and courtesy. |
2. absol. To give or offer counsel or advice. † Const. to (a course or purpose).
(Arising out of 1, by suppression of the personal object, and leading the way to 3, in which the personal object is also absent, and the matter of the advice expressed.)
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xiii. 377 And as he consalit, thai haue done. 1382 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 514 Alle men of þe Parlement counceilinge þerto. 1635 R. Bolton Comf. Affl. Consc. i. 140 Austin the famous Disputer..counselleth to this purpose. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 1099 So counsel'd hee and both together went Into the thickest Wood. |
3. to counsel a thing: to advise its adoption or doing; to recommend (a plan, suggestion, etc.). a. with the matter expressed by a sentence, clause, or inf. phrase.
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 3927 Som clerkes counsailles Þat we it spare and reserve halely, Until we com til purgatory. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 201 Ich consaile, for comune profit lete þe cat worthe. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4648 To þe same þai counselde Þar with þe cors to lende. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices 35 b, He counsayled that suche yocke and burden should be taken awaye. |
b. with the matter expressed by a noun or pronoun.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 11336 Hade þou counceld the contrary. 1647–8 Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 28 It should be proposed and counselled, as necessary. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 227 Thus Belial..Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath. 1868 Bright Sp. Ireland 14 Mar., I would counsel to all men moderation and justice. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. 356 The Emperor..counselled prudence and delay. |
† 4. To ask counsel of; to consult. Obs.
| 1382 Wyclif Ezek. xxi. 21 The kyng..axide ydolis, he counseilide [1388 took councel at] entrailis. 1528 Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. l. 167 He could no less do than to counsel other thereupon. 1547 Hooper Answ. Bp. Winchester's Bk. Wks. (Parker Soc.) 141 Moses..counselled the Lord and thereupon advised his subjects what was to be done. |
† 5. refl. To take counsel with oneself; to consider; also = next. Cf. to advise oneself, F. se conseiller, s'aviser. Obs.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 122/552 Of ower olde lawes transcrit ȝe me take And þare-oppe ich chulle conseillen me ȝwuche beon to for-sake. a 1300 Cursor M. 5509 (Cott.) Sir consail yow, and þat bi yarre, Was neuer nede of consail mare. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 199 He thought he wolde him first counseile With Apollo. |
† 6. intr. To take counsel with others; to consult, deliberate. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 91 Our Kyng..vnder feng hym fayr ynow, and conseilede of þe cas. a 1300 Cursor M. 14386 (Gött.) Þa consailed þaim emang Him ouþer for to heued or hang. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 90 Synful men shulden conseile with preestis, and take of hem medecine to fle more synne. 1475 Bk. Noblesse 84 The saide governours of Rome..saiden they wolde counceile togither and advise a day. c 1500 Melusine 236 Ye muste counseyll emong you, & take your best adwys. a 1555 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 360 Wives must counsel with husbands. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. i. 2 Those Druides..dwelt in darksome Groues, there counsailing with sprites. 1795 Southey Joan of Arc ix. 64 Counselling They met despondent. |