Library / English Dictionary

COUNSEL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: counselled    , counselling   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action

Synonyms:

counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("counsel" is a kind of...):

content; message; subject matter; substance (what a communication that is about something is about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "counsel"):

guideline; road map (a detailed plan or explanation to guide you in setting standards or determining a course of action)

career counseling (counseling on career opportunities)

cynosure (something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners))

genetic counseling (guidance for prospective parents on the likelihood of genetic disorders in their future children)

marriage counseling (counseling on marital problems and disagreements)

confidential information; hint; lead; steer; tip; wind (an indication of potential opportunity)

Derivation:

counsel (give advice to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A lawyer who pleads cases in court

Synonyms:

advocate; counsel; counsellor; counselor; counselor-at-law; pleader

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("counsel" is a kind of...):

attorney; lawyer (a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

counsel (give advice to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give advice to

Example:

The lawyer counselled me when I was accused of tax fraud

Synonyms:

advise; counsel; rede

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "counsel" is one way to...):

discuss; hash out; talk over (speak with others about (something); talk (something) over in detail; have a discussion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "counsel"):

exhort; press; urge; urge on (force or impel in an indicated direction)

deter; dissuade (turn away from by persuasion)

admonish; discourage; monish; warn (advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior)

tip; tip off (give insider information or advise to)

misadvise; misguide (give bad advice to)

propound (put forward, as of an idea)

consult (advise professionally)

contraindicate (make a treatment inadvisable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot counsel Sue

They counsel him to write the letter

Derivation:

counsel (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

counsel (a lawyer who pleads cases in court)

counseling; counselling (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

counsellor; counselor (someone who gives advice about problems)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Special education classes and psychological counseling can also help.

(Developmental Disabilities, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Immediate, short-term counseling (talking with a professional counselor) to stop a critical emotional incident (e.g., attempted suicide or drug overdose) from getting worse.

(Crisis intervention, NCI Dictionary)

This will pave the way for preventative interventions and genetic counselling.

(Gene Causes Sudden Death in Young People, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Individuals at genetic risk for dementia should therefore be counselled to pursue a physically active lifestyle.

(Rare Alzheimer's Disease Patients May Delay Cognitive Decline with Exercise, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

When they came to the village, the son followed the fox’s counsel, and without looking about him went to the shabby inn and rested there all night at his ease.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Love Beauty for its own sake, was his counsel, and leave the magazines alone.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It may mean closer health monitoring and more counseling about possible lifestyle modifications to prevent high blood pressure.

(First-time pregnancy complications linked to increased risk of hypertension later in life, National Institutes of Health)

The person's family and personal medical history may be discussed, and counseling may lead to genetic testing.

(Genetic Counseling, NCI Dictionary)

Genetic counseling provides information and support to people who have, or may be at risk for, genetic disorders.

(Genetic Counseling, Genetics Home Reference)

“But in very truth, Sir Tristram, if I may venture a word of counsel, I should advise that you make your peace with this good man.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)