counsel means the exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation. It carries an Arena rating of 1500, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, counsel ranks #2,678 of 14,410 for Most Ponderous Words, #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #7,100 of 14,440 for Most Satisfying to Say, #7,196 of 14,297 for Words That Escaped Their Books.
counsel is pronounced /ˈkaʊn.səl/.
Why “counsel” is a great word
Formal, considered advice or guidance, particularly given after deliberation in a serious or professional context. From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Anglo-French cunseil, Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium ('plan, advice, judgment'), from cōnsulere ('to consult, deliberate'), first recorded in English 1175–1225. Unlike 'advice,' a general and often informal suggestion, or 'council,' a body of people, counsel implies the weight of considered wisdom itself. It is the hushed conference at the defendant's table, the solemn recommendation passed from elder to heir, or the quiet argument one presents to one's own conscience in the dark—the measured voice attempting to impose order on the chaos of choice, offered not as a whisper but as a bearing.
Etymology
From Middle English counseil, conseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin cōnsilium; akin to cōnsulō (“take counsel, consult”).
noun
- The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.“Bleſſed is that man that hath not walked in the counſaile of the vngodly: nor ſtand in the waye of ſynners, and hath not ſit in the ſeate of ſkornefull.”
- Exercise of judgment; prudence.“They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that counsel is used.”
- Advice; guidance.“I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised.”
- Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.“The counsel of the Lord standeth forever.”
- A lawyer, as in King's Counsel (KC) or Queen's Counsel (QC).
verb
- To give advice, especially professional advice, to (somebody).“The lawyer counselled his client to remain silent.”
- To recommend (a course of action).“I would counsel prudence in this matter.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- beread 83% match — To advise; inform; counsel; plan; (reflexive) to advise or bethink oneself; deliberate. vs counsel →
- monition 83% match — A caution or warning. vs counsel →
- colloquy 83% match — # A conversation or dialogue. vs counsel →
- recourse 83% match — The act of seeking assistance or advice. vs counsel →
- conscience 82% match — The ethical or moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions. vs counsel →
- persuasion 82% match — The act of persuading, or trying to do so; the addressing of arguments to someone with the intention of changing their mind or convincing them of a certain point of view, course of action etc. vs counsel →
- discounsel 82% match — To advise (someone) against doing something. vs counsel →
- propound 82% match — To put forward; to offer for discussion or debate. vs counsel →