\Coun"sel\ (koun"s?l), n. [OE. conc?l, 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.
Note: The some courts a distinction is observed between the
      attorney and the counsel in a cause, the former being
      employed in the management iof 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?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 reson's garb,
         Counseled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth. --Milton.