Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COUN'SEL, n. [Fr. counseil; Arm. consailh; It. consiglio; Sp. consejo; Port. conselho; from L. consilium, from the root of consulo, to consult, which is probably the Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. Eth. שאל, Ar. سَأَلَ saula, to ask. Class Sl, No. 16, 42. The radical sense of the verb, to ask, is to set upon, urge, or press. Hence the Oriental verb is probably the root of the L. salio, assilio, or from the same root. See the like analogies in L. peto, to ask, to assail.]

1. Advice; opinion, or instruction, given upon request or otherwise, for directing the judgment or conduct of another; opinion given upon deliberation or consultation. Every purpose is established by counsel. – Prov. xx. Thou hast not hearkened to my counsel. – 2 Chron. xxv.
2. Consultation; interchange of opinions. We took sweet counsel together. – Ps. lv.
3. Deliberation; examination of consequences. They all confess that, in the working of that first cause, counsel is used, reason followed, and a way observed. – Hooker.
4. Prudence; deliberate opinion or judgment, or the faculty or habit of judging with caution. O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men of honor. – Ecclus. xxv. The law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. – Ezek. vii.
5. In a bad sense, evil advice or designs; art; machination. The counsel of the froward is carried headlong. – Job. v.
6. Secrecy; the secrets intrusted in consultation; secret opinions or purposes. Let a man keep his own counsel.
7. In a Scriptural sense, purpose; design; will; decree. What thy counsel determined before to be done. – Acts iv. To show the immutability of his counsel. – Heb. vi.
8. Directions of God's word. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel. – Ps. lxxiii.
9. The will of God or his truth and doctrines concerning the way of salvation. I have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God. – Acts xx.
10. Those who give counsel in law; any counselor or advocate, or any number of counselors, barristers or sergeants; as, the plaintif's counsel, or the defendant's counsel. The attorney-general and solicitor-general are the king's counsel. In this sense the word has no plural; but in the singular number, is applicable to one or more persons.