counsel

C2 Topic:Law & Government

US /ˈkaʊn.səl/ See IPA manual

Homophones

council /ˈkaʊn.səl/

verb noun Freq #4541

Meanings

1

noun
Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful.

She sought the counsel of an older colleague before deciding.
2

verb
To give someone advice, especially professional advice.

The lawyer counselled his client to remain silent.
3

noun
A lawyer or group of lawyers conducting a case in court.

Counsel for the defence questioned the witness closely.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · advice or guidance,... advice guidance recommendation suggestion tip

2 verb · to give someone advice,... advise

Word family

Forms counseledcounselledcounsellingcounsels

Derived forms cocounselcounseleecounselleemiscounselprecounseluncounselled

Related forms councilcounselablecounselingcounsellablecounsellingcounsellor counselor

Etymology

From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”).

*selh₁- Proto-Indo-European counseil Middle English conseil Old French cōnsilium Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Law & Government

# counsel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈkaʊn.səl
**Frequency rank:** 4541

## Meanings
1. Advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful.
2. To give someone advice, especially professional advice.
3. A lawyer or group of lawyers conducting a case in court.

## Examples
- She sought the counsel of an older colleague before deciding.
- The lawyer counselled his client to remain silent.
- Counsel for the defence questioned the witness closely.

## Derived Forms
- cocounsel
- counselee
- counsellee
- miscounsel
- precounsel
- uncounselled

## Related Forms
- council
- counselable
- counseling
- counsellable
- counselling
- counsellor
- counselor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *selh₁-
- Root: counseil
- Root: conseil
- Root: cōnsilium

## Etymology
From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”).

## AI Etymology
Counsel is from Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”). Important recorded forms include *selh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), counseil (Middle English), conseil (Old French), and cōnsilium (Latin). Current senses include advice or guidance, especially when serious or careful, to give someone advice, especially professional advice, and a lawyer or group of lawyers conducting a case in court. The wider family includes derived forms such as cocounsel, counselee, counsellee, miscounsel, and precounsel and related words such as council, counselable, counseling, counsellable, and counselling.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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counsel

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