Coun"sel (koun"s&ebreve;l), n. [OE.
conseil, F. conseil, fr. L. consilium, fr.
the root of consulere to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf.
Consult, Consul.] 1.
Interchange of opinions; mutual advising;
consultation.
All the chief priest and elders of the people took
counsel against Jesus, to put him to death.
Matt. xxvii. 1.
2. Examination of consequences; exercise
of deliberate judgment; prudence.
They all confess, therefore, in the working of
that first cause, that counsel is used.
Hooker.
3. Result of consultation; advice;
instruction.
I like thy counsel; well hast thou
advised.
Shak.
It was ill counsel had misled the girl.
Tennyson.
4. Deliberate purpose; design; intent;
scheme; plan.
The counsel of the Lord standeth
forever.
Ps. xxxiii. 11.
The counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Prov. xii. 5.
5. A secret opinion or purpose; a private
matter.
Thilke lord . . . to whom no counsel may be
hid.
Gower.
6. One who gives advice, especially in
legal matters; one professionally engaged in the trial or
management of a cause in court; also, collectively, the legal
advocates united in the management of a case; as, the defendant
has able counsel.
The King found his counsel as refractory as
his judges.
Macaulay.
&fist; In some courts a distinction is observed between the
attorney and the counsel in a cause, the former being employed in
the management of the more mechanical parts of the suit, the
latter in attending to the pleadings, managing the cause at the
trial, and in applying the law to the exigencies of the case
during the whole progress of the suit. In other courts the same
person can exercise the powers of each. See Attorney.
Kent.
In counsel, in secret. [Obs.]
Chaucer. -- To keep counsel, or
To keep one's own counsel, to keep one's
thoughts, purposes, etc., undisclosed.
The players can not keep counsel: they 'll
tell all.
Shak.
Syn. -- Advice; consideration; consultation; purpose;
scheme; opinion.
Coun"sel, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Counseled (-s&ebreve;ld) or
Counselled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Counseling or Counselling.] [OE. conseilen,
counseilen, F. conseiller, fr. L.
consiliari, fr. consilium counsel.]
1. To give advice to; to advice, admonish,
or instruct, as a person.
Good sir, I do in friendship counsel
you
To leave this place.
Shak.
2. To advise or recommend, as an act or
course.
They who counsel war.
Milton.
Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's
garb,
Counseled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth.
Milton.
