a lawyer who pleads cases in court
"My uncle hired a skilled counsel to represent him during his trial for embezzlement."
something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action
"Before accepting the job offer, she sought counsel from her mentor regarding whether it was the right time for such a career move."
The exchange of opinions and advice especially in legal issues; consultation.
"After hours of intense counsel with his defense team, the defendant finally decided to plead not guilty."
In plain English: Counsel is advice given to help someone make a good decision.
"The attorney offered wise counsel to his client regarding the legal case."
Usage: Use "counsel" as a noun to refer to professional legal advice or the act of consulting with someone on serious matters. It is distinct from "advise," which is a verb, and should not be used interchangeably with "council," which refers to a group of people.
To give advice, especially professional advice, to (somebody).
"After hours of intense discussion, the lawyer finally counseled her client to accept the settlement offer rather than risk a trial."
In plain English: To counsel means to give advice or guidance to someone.
"My lawyer counseled me to accept the settlement offer."
Usage: Use "counsel" as a transitive verb when you advise someone formally or professionally, such as a lawyer counseling a client. It requires a direct object and should not be confused with the intransitive verb "to consult."
The word entered English via the Old French conseil, which was borrowed from the Latin cōnsilium. Its original meaning of "taking counsel" or consulting closely aligns with its modern usage.