n.
- advice, especially that given formally.
▸archaic consultation.
(pl. same)
a barrister or other legal adviser conducting a case.
v.
(counsels, counselling, counselled; US counsels, counseling, counseled)
- give advice to.
▸recommend (a course of action).
-
[often as noun counselling]
give professional help and advice to (someone) to resolve personal, social, or psychological problems.
Phrase
- a counsel of despair
an action to be taken when all else fails. - a counsel of perfection
advice that is ideal but not feasible. - keep one's own counsel
not confide in others. - take counsel
discuss a problem.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. counseil (n.), conseiller (v.), from L. consilium ‘consultation, advice’, rel. to consulere (see consult); cf. council.