| 释义 |
▪ I. counsel, n.|ˈkaʊnsɪl|
Forms: 3–6 con-, counseil, -seyl, -sail, -sayl, (-seile, -seille, -seyle, -saile, -saille, -sayle, etc.; also 4–5 cun-, cown-, koun-, kown-); 5–7 counsell, (-al, -all, -ale, etc.); 4– counsel: about 40 variants. Also 4–5 con-, coun-, etc., -cel, -cele, -ceil, etc.; 5–7 councell, 6–8 -cel, 7–8 -cil: about 15 variants.
[ME. con-, counseil, -ail, -ayl, a. OF. conseil, cunseil, in AFr. counseil (= Pr. conselh, Cat. consell, Sp. consejo, Pg. conseglo, It. consiglio):—L. consilium consultation, plan decided on as the result of consultation, advice, counsel, advising faculty, prudence; a deliberating body, a council of state, war, etc.; a counsellor: a word of the same type as colloquium, connubium, etc., f. consulĕre to deliberate, etc., f. con- together + *sal- a root found also in consul, consulto, and prob. cognate with Skr. sar- to go. The various senses are retained in French; but in English, those meaning a deliberating body are now written council, by confusion with L. concilium.]
I.
1. a. Interchange of opinions on a matter of procedure; consultation, deliberation. to take counsel: to consult, deliberate.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 59/202 A-mong þis Cardinales counseil þere was i-nome. a1340Hampole Psalter xii. 2 How lange sall I sett counsails in my hert of diuerse thynges. c1450Merlin x. 141 After mete Arthur & Merlin went togeder to counseile. 1539Bible (Great) John xi. 53 Then from that daye forth they toke counsell together, for to put him to deeth. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 258 There were great counsayles betwene the King and Jaques Dartnell, on the one parte, and the Counsayles of the good townes of the other part. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 11, I hold as little counsaile with weake feare, As you. 1611Bible Job xxxviii. 2 Who is this that darkneth counsell by words without knowledge? 1710Prideaux Orig. Tithes i. 9 No time..for that Counsel and Consideration which is requisite. 1795Southey Joan of Arc viii. 576 Time was not for long counsel. 1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 11 There are..eras of counsel and eras of execution. 1879C. M. Yonge Cameos Ser. iv. vi. 72 He found old Lefévre, and took much counsel with him.
†b. Conference, conversation. Obs. rare.
a1350Leben Jesu (ed. Horstmann) 79 (Mätz.) Nuste no man ȝwat it was, þat conseil longe ilaste. Ibid. 340 Þa comen þe apostles, and þouȝten wonder þat he wolde suych conseil drawe Mid a womman þat sunfol was.
2. a. Opinion as to what ought to be done given as the result of consultation; aid or instruction for directing the judgement; advice, direction.
a1225Ancr. R. 70 Ne no mon ne aski ou read ne counsail. c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 111/169 Heo ȝaf him conseil þane wei to gon. c1380Wyclif Wks. (1880) 315 Triste we to god þat he wole ȝiue us concel in þis. c1386Chaucer Melib. ⁋207 Taak no conseil of a fool. 1470–85Malory Arthur i. x, The kyng asked counceil at hem al. 1542Boorde Dyetary Pref. (1870) 226 Without the counceyl [1547 counsell] of Mayster doctour Butte. 1579Gosson Apol. Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 70 If plaiers take a little more counsell of their pillowe, they shall finde them selues to be the worste..people in the world. 1651Hobbes Leviath. (1839) 241 Counsel, is where a man saith, do, or do not this, and deduceth his reasons from the benefit that arriveth by it to him to whom he saith it. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 185 ⁋1 The counsels of philosophy and the injunctions of religion. 1761Hume Hist. Eng. I. vi. 142 Both princes..hearkened the more willingly to the councils of Anselm. 1874Green Short Hist. viii. 487 The failure of the more moderate counsels for which his own had been set aside.
b. spec. in Theol. One of the advisory declarations of Christ and the apostles, in mediæval theology reckoned as twelve, which are considered not to be universally binding, but to be given as a means of attaining greater moral perfection; so counsel of perfection, esp. in reference to Matt. xix. 21; also transf.; evangelical counsels, the three obligations of voluntary poverty, chastity, and obedience to a religious superior (see quot. 1875).
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 2 Ȝif men wolen..kepe þe counseilis of Crist, loke þat þei croken not from him. 1450–1530Myrr. Our Ladye 139 By the nombre of xxii ys vnderstonde the x commaundementes and the xii counsaylles of the gospell. Ibid. 140 The commaundementes of oure lorde that all must kepe that wyll be saued..The counsayles that longe to relygyous & to folke of perfeccyon. 1577T. Vautrollier Luther on Ep. Gal. 85 marg., The Papistes diuide the gospell into precepts and counsels. To the preceptes men are bound (say they), but not to the counsels. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. Exhort. §8 Although some men did acts of Counsel in order to attain that perfection which in Jesus was essential and unalterable. a1678Scougal Life of God in Soul of Man (1726) 169 We must not look upon this..as a counsel of perfection, highly commendable, but not absolutely necessary to salvation. 1863Keble Life Bp. Wilson xii. 405 This..which the tenor of her life may justify us in calling no extravagance of pietism, but a real counsel of perfection. 1875Manning Mission H. Ghost xii. 330 But the life of counsels—that is the life of poverty, the life of chastity, the life of obedience, which is the life of the priesthood, and the life of those who enter convents. 1885Catholic Dict. 325/1 The high estimation in which the Fathers held the evangelical counsels. 1886Earl Selborne Def. Ch. Eng. iii. xvii. §3. 297 A tendency..to elevate counsels of perfection into laws of bondage. 1909A. Bennett Literary Taste 87 Every Englishman who is interested in any branch of his native literature, and who respects himself, ought to own a comprehensive and inclusive library of English literature, in comely and adequate editions. You may suppose that this counsel is a counsel of perfection. It is not. 1938W. S. Maugham Summing Up xlviii. 186 Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul. This is a counsel of perfection.
c. Phr. counsel of despair.
1910G. B. Shaw Let. to G. Barker Jan. (1956) 162 It is only the 4th Jan, too soon for counsels of despair. 1929R. Bridges Test. Beauty ii. 229 All Utopias Are castles in the air or counsels of despair.
3. The faculty of counselling or advising; judgement; prudence; sagacity in the devising of plans. Obs. or arch.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 412 He was queynte of conseyl & speche, & of body strong. a1300Cursor M. 29205 (Cott.) Þe gift o wijt, of vnder-standing, o consail. 1382Wyclif Isa. xi. 2 And ther shal resten vp on hym the Spirit of the Lord..spirit of counseil and of strengthe. c1400Sowdone Bab. 367 Tho by-spake a worthy man of counsaile, An Erille of the Senatouris. 1535Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 457 Laulie and meik and of consall rycht gude. 1611Bible Job xii. 13 With him is wisedome & strength, he hath counsell and vnderstanding. 1653H. More Antid. Ath. ii. i. (1712) 38 Things are so framed that they naturally imply a Principle of Wisdom and Counsel in the Author of them.
4. That in which deliberation results; resolution, purpose, intention; plan, design, scheme.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 371 Hii..were alle at conseyl to worry Engelond. 1382Wyclif Ps. xxxii[i]. 11 The counseill forsothe of the Lord withoute ende abit. c1450Merlin xiv. 202 He ne kowde no counseile how he myght his londe deffende. 1534Tindale Acts ii. 23 Delivered by the determinat counsell and foreknoweledge of God. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Pref. 5 His prouidence and consailles unscrutable. 1600Holland Livy vii. xx. 262 Would any man impute it rather to deliberate counsell, than to some fit of heat and follie? 1680Burnet Rochester (1692) 84 We who cannot fathom the secrets of the Councel of God. 1841Myers Cath. Th. iii. §15. 55 The secret counsels of the Infinite Mind.
†5.
a. A private or secret purpose, design, or opinion. Obs. (exc. as in d).
a1300Cursor M. 3161 (Cott.) His consail will he naman tell. c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 683 How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro Habraham þe trwe, Þat I ne dyscouered to his corse my counsayle so dere. 1473J. Warkworth Chron. 9 There cownselle was dyscoverede. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 776 Many thought that thys Duke was privie to all the Protectors counsayle. 1607Shakes. Cor. i. ii. 2 They of Rome are entred in our Counsailes, And know how we proceede. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 229 By diligent watchfulness discover their [Enemies'] approaches or counsels.
†b. A matter of confidence or secrecy; a secret; a confidence. Obs. (exc. as in d).
a1300Cursor M. 27886 (Cotton Galba) Dronkinhede..mase oft kounsail to be talde. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 157 Þat þat wommen witeth may nouȝte wel be conseille! c1380Sir Ferumb. 2784 To sayn soþ of þy make, Hit ne may beo no consail; þe Sarazyns him habbeþ itake. c1386Chaucer Wife's T. 110 But natheles hir thoughte that sche dyde, That sche so long a counseil scholde hyde. c1450Crt. of Love 722 But this is counsaile, keepe it secretly, (Quod she). c1460Play Sacram. 522 Charge yow euerychoon That yt be conselle that we haue doon. 1530Palsgr. 208/1 Counsell, secret. 1613Massinger Dk. Milan iii. i, Nay, it is no counsel, You may partake it, gentlemen.
†c. in counsel: in private, in confidence. Obs.
c1400Mandeville (1839) xii. 137 He leet voyden out of his chambre all maner of men..for he wolde speke with me in conseill. 1470–85Malory Arthur xx. i, Thenne sir Agrauayne sayd thus openly and not in no counceylle. 1535Coverdale Job iv. 12 There is spoken unto me a thynge in councell. 1598Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 122 Shal. The Councell shall know this. Fal. 'Twere better for you if it were known in councell: you'll be laugh'd at. 1638Ford Fancies i. iii, A pastime smiled at Amongst yourselves in counsel; but beware Of being overheard.
d. † to keep or hold (a matter) counsel (later in counsel): to keep it secret (obs.). to keep († hold) counsel: to observe secrecy (arch. and dial.). to keep any one's counsel: to keep a secret which he has committed to one (arch. or obs.). to keep one's (own) counsel: to keep one's own secret, be reticent about one's intentions or opinions.
a1300Cursor M. 27411 (Cott.) Þe sin þat said es to þe preist he hald it consail euer in breist. c1450Erle Tolous 582 Madam, your trowthe ys plyght, To holde counsayle, bothe day and nyght. c1450Merlin i. 16 This may not be kepte counseill. 1470–85Malory Arthur viii. xxxviii, He kepeth it no counceil but that he is a knyghte of Kynge Arthurs. Ibid. xii. v, Kepe hit in counceylle and let noo man knowe hit in the world. 1474Caxton Chesse 16 It is comyn prouerbe that women can kepe no counceyl. c1550Bale K. Johan (Camden) 26 Kepe yt counsell, dane Davy Dyssymulacyon. 1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 168 Three may kepe councell if twayne be away. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 217 Women and children keepe that in counsel whereof they are ignorant. 1602Shakes. Ham. iv. ii. 11 Do not beleeue it..That I can keepe your counsel, and not mine owne. 1611Bible Ecclus. viii. 17 Consult not with a foole; for he cannot keepe counsell. 1641Brome Jov. Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 374 We..have kept all your councels ever since we have been Infant Play⁓fellows. 1711Addison Spect. No. 12 ⁋1, I am the best Man in the World to keep my own Counsel. 1757Foote Author i. Wks. 1799 I. 136 Don't be afraid; I'll keep council. 1818Byron Juan i. lxviii, I'm really puzzled what to think or say, She kept her counsel in so close a way. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 584 William kept his own counsel so well that not a hint of his intention got abroad.
†6. of counsel with or for (a person), in, with or to (an act, etc.): in the counsels, confidence, or secrets of; one of the advisers of (a person); privy to (an act). Obs.
1425Paston Lett. No. 5 I. 22, I prey yow..that..ye will..defenden the seyd sutes..and to be of owr counseill in these matieres. 1530Palsgr. 424/1, I am cheife a [= of] counsayle with one je suis de son segret priué. 1530in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford 89 And noon of them other to blame or off councell wt that lewed dede. 1535Coverdale Job xxxvii. 15 Art thou of councel with God? 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John 20 b, A thing priuie and of councel to his first fault. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 783 She was a [= of] counsaile with the Lorde Hastynges to destroy him. 1633Ford 'Tis Pity v. vi, Say, fellow, know'st thou any yet unnam'd Of council in this incest? 1683A. Snape Anat. Horse i. i. (1686) 69 Aristotle..was in his time thought to be the nearest of counsel to Nature. 1689Tryal Bps. 3 This Writ was granted upon our Motion, who are of Councel for the King.
II.
†7.
a. An assembly or body of advisers. Obs. Now council 4 and 6 q.v.
1297[see council 6; also 4 and 6 for other quots.]. a1300Cursor M. 24793 (Cott.) His consail badd him for to faand, þe king of danemerk wit saand. c1305Pilate 38 in E.E.P. (1862) 112 He wolde him sle, ac his consail ne ȝaf him noȝt þerto. 1549Coverdale Erasm. Par. II. Ded. 1 The..wholesome advyce and ministerie, of your noble uncle and counsail.
b. A single person with whom one consults or advises; a counsellor. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Knt.'s T. 289, I..tolde thee my wo As to my conseil and to my brother sworn. 1647Ward Simp. Cobler 54 Will you follow your very worst Councell so farre, as to provoke your very best? 1654Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) II. 134 Lo. Digby was soe much the ablest Councell to the King.
8. a. A body of legal advisers, engaged in the direction or conduct of a cause. (Usually a collective plural, but sometimes treated as a numeral plural; formerly, in ‘to desire the benefit of counsel’, ‘to be allowed counsel’, etc., treated as a collective sing.: cf. quot. 1681.)
(In this sense erroneously stated in many legal text-books to be ‘an abbreviation of counsellor’.)
1393Gower Conf. III. 155 Help, that I hadde counseil here Upon the trouthe of my matere. And Julius with that anone Assigned him a worthy one. 1425Paston Lett. No. 5. I. 20, I have, by advys of counseill in making a procuracie to yow. 1592Greene Art Conny Catch. ii. 15 Carefull to see his counsell, and to ply his Atturney. 1642Perkins Prof. Bk. xi. 341 As shall bee devised by the Councell learned in the Law. 1666Pepys Diary (1879) IV. 219 The Lords did insist that he should have Counsel, which the Commons would not suffer. Ibid. IV. 280 The second of our three Counsel was the best. 1681Trial S. Colledge 9 In Misdemeanour Councel is to be allowed for the Prisoner, but not in Treason. 1709Calverley in Yorksh. Diaries (Surtees) II. 122 Council for Mr. Hackett were lawyers Adams and Wickham..for Mr. Wilson..councils, Mr. Thornton of Leeds, and Mr. Rawson of Bradford. 1739Cibber Apol. (1756) II. 62 Two of the learned Council against us came afterwards to be successively Lord Chancellors. 1837Penny Cycl. VIII. 106/2 The duty of counsel is to give advice in questions of law, and to manage causes for clients. They are styled common law, equity, or chamber counsel, according to the nature of the business they transact. 1883Sir T. Martin Ld. Lyndhurst v. 139 The most formidable array of counsel that was ever banded together for a criminal prosecution.
b. as sing. (rarely with pl. counsels): A single legal adviser; a counsellor-at-law, advocate, or barrister.
1709[see prec.]. 1712Steele Spect. No. 429 Because a Council of the other Side asserted it was coming down. 1789T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 37 They have..charged one of their ablest counsels with the preparation of a memoir to establish this. 1802M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. xii. 99 An advocate..the first counsel in Edinburgh.
c. King's (Queen's) Counsel: barristers appointed (on the nomination of the lord-chancellor) counsel to the crown; they take precedence of ordinary barristers, and wear a silk instead of a stuff gown; also a member of this body. (Abbreviated K.C., Q.C.)
1689Tryal Bps. 2 It is our Duty, who are the King's Councel..to prosecute such kind of Offences. 1797W. Tone Autobiog. (1828) 79 Two lawyers of great eminence..King's Counsel. 1863H. Cox Instit. ii. iii. 375 Queen's Council or her Majesty's Counsel..as servants of the Crown, must not be employed in any cause against its interest, without special license of the Crown, which is however never refused. 1892Newspr., Mr. Lockwood, Q.C. defended.
9. Comb., as counsel-giver, counsel-giving, counsel-keeping; counsel-keeper, one who is entrusted with designs, secrets, etc. by another; a confidant.
1535Coverdale 2 Chron. xxii. 4 They were his councell geuers after his fathers death. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. ii. iii. 24 And Curtain'd with a Counsaile-keeping Caue. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 290 And looke whether the fierie Trigon..be not lisping to his Masters old Tables, his Note-Booke, his Councell-keeper? 1591Percivall Sp. Dict., Abogacía, pleading, counsell giuing, the profession of an aduocate. 1621Lady M. Wroth Urania 476 She was not of..my counsell-keepers. 1828C. Wordsworth Chas. I 246 That counsel-giving to the King.
▪ II. counsel, v.|ˈkaʊnsɪl|
Forms (more than 30): 3 conseill-en, 3–6 vars. in con-, coun-, (4–5 cown-), -seil, -sail(l, etc., as in n.; 5–6 counsell, 4– counsel. Also 4–6 counceil, -cell, -cel, etc.
[ME. conseillen, a. F. conseiller (= Pr. cosseillar, cosselhar, OSp. consejar, It. consigliare):—late L. consiliāre, for cl. L. consiliārī to be a counsellor, to counsel, f. consilium: see prec.]
1. to counsel a person: to give or offer (him) counsel or advice; to advise.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 214 He bygan hem rede; And in þys batayle to conseyly, and þes wordes seyde. a1300Cursor M. 7991 (Gött.) Comyn i am þe to consayle, þu folu it, and it sal þe vayle. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 5943 To counsaile þam þat askes counsayle. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 3817 He counseld þe childes fader. 1474Caxton Chesse 25 Theyr offyce is for to counceylle the kyng. 1535Act 27 Hen. VIII, c. 27 Ye shall truly councell the king and his chauncellour..in al thinges concerning the same. 1607Shakes. Cor. iii. ii. 28 Pray be counsail'd. 1789Gouv. Morris in Sparks Life & Writ. II. 71 [He] has neither sense to counsel himself nor to choose counsellors for himself, much less to counsel others. 1842Lytton Zanoni 27 Since we have thus met, I will pause to counsel you.
b. with constructions and adverbial extensions, expressing the matter or tenor of the advice.
a1300Cursor M. 3450 (Gött.) To consail hir quat were best. Ibid. 3751 (Gött.) Consail me fader, how to liue. Ibid. 24213 (Fairf.) Counsail me vn-to þe best. 1393Gower Conf. III. 70, I you counseile That ye it kepe. c1400Destr. Troy 9804 He counceld the kynges to kayre into grece. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 43, I counseylle you that ye tourne agayn. 1599Shakes. Much Ado iii. i. 83, I will goe..And counsaile him to fight against his passion. a1843Southey Inscriptions xxii, Men who counsell'd him To offer terms. 1863Mrs. C. Clarke Shaks. Char. xv. 376 The weakly unjust king will not be counselled to his own honour and interest. 1871Weymouth Euph. 10 Euphues counsels ladies to cultivate good-nature and courtesy.
2. absol. To give or offer counsel or advice. † Const. to (a course or purpose).
(Arising out of 1, by suppression of the personal object, and leading the way to 3, in which the personal object is also absent, and the matter of the advice expressed.)
1375Barbour Bruce xiii. 377 And as he consalit, thai haue done. 1382Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 514 Alle men of þe Parlement counceilinge þerto. 1635R. Bolton Comf. Affl. Consc. i. 140 Austin the famous Disputer..counselleth to this purpose. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 1099 So counsel'd hee and both together went Into the thickest Wood.
3. to counsel a thing: to advise its adoption or doing; to recommend (a plan, suggestion, etc.).
a. with the matter expressed by a sentence, clause, or inf. phrase.
1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 3927 Som clerkes counsailles Þat we it spare and reserve halely, Until we com til purgatory. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 201 Ich consaile, for comune profit lete þe cat worthe. c1450St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4648 To þe same þai counselde Þar with þe cors to lende. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices 35 b, He counsayled that suche yocke and burden should be taken awaye.
b. with the matter expressed by a noun or pronoun.
c1400Destr. Troy 11336 Hade þou counceld the contrary. 1647–8Sir C. Cotterell Davila's Hist. Fr. (1678) 28 It should be proposed and counselled, as necessary. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 227 Thus Belial..Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath. 1868Bright Sp. Ireland 14 Mar., I would counsel to all men moderation and justice. 1874Green Short Hist. vii. 356 The Emperor..counselled prudence and delay.
†4. To ask counsel of; to consult. Obs.
1382Wyclif Ezek. xxi. 21 The kyng..axide ydolis, he counseilide [1388 took councel at] entrailis. 1528Gardiner in Pocock Rec. Ref. I. l. 167 He could no less do than to counsel other thereupon. 1547Hooper Answ. Bp. Winchester's Bk. Wks. (Parker Soc.) 141 Moses..counselled the Lord and thereupon advised his subjects what was to be done.
†5. refl. To take counsel with oneself; to consider; also = next. Cf. to advise oneself, F. se conseiller, s'aviser. Obs.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 122/552 Of ower olde lawes transcrit ȝe me take And þare-oppe ich chulle conseillen me ȝwuche beon to for-sake. a1300Cursor M. 5509 (Cott.) Sir consail yow, and þat bi yarre, Was neuer nede of consail mare. 1393Gower Conf. III. 199 He thought he wolde him first counseile With Apollo.
†6. intr. To take counsel with others; to consult, deliberate. Obs.
1297R. Glouc. (1724) 91 Our Kyng..vnder feng hym fayr ynow, and conseilede of þe cas. a1300Cursor M. 14386 (Gött.) Þa consailed þaim emang Him ouþer for to heued or hang. c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 90 Synful men shulden conseile with preestis, and take of hem medecine to fle more synne. 1475Bk. Noblesse 84 The saide governours of Rome..saiden they wolde counceile togither and advise a day. c1500Melusine 236 Ye muste counseyll emong you, & take your best adwys. a1555Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 360 Wives must counsel with husbands. 1612Drayton Poly-olb. i. 2 Those Druides..dwelt in darksome Groues, there counsailing with sprites. 1795Southey Joan of Arc ix. 64 Counselling They met despondent. |