coun|cil

coun|cil «KOWN suhl», noun.

1. a group of people called together to give advice and to discuss or settle questions: »

till their fate is finally determined in a general council of the victorious warriors (J. D. Hunter).

SYNONYM(S): conference, meeting, assembly.

2. a) a group of persons elected by the people to make laws for and manage a city or town: »

a town council, city council.

SYNONYM(S): legislature. b) Especially British. the local chief administrative authority of a corporate town or city: »

a borough council.

3. a body of delegates from labor unions or local organizations: »

a community council.

4. a) a body of persons appointed to assist a chief executive in an administrative, advisory, or legislative capacity: »

The governor is assisted by an executive council of six members.

b) a high government body, sometimes honorary: »

the British Privy Council.

5. any body of delegates or representatives.

6. the deliberation or consultation that takes place in a council or meeting.

7. an ecclesiastical assembly called to consider or decide on matters of doctrine, discipline, or the like: »

the Council of Nicaea, the Vatican Council.

8. (in the New Testament) the Jewish Sanhedrin or a similar group, or one of the meetings of such a group.

╂[< Old French concile, learned borrowing from Latin concilium < com- together + calāre call]

Usage council, counsel. Council is always a noun: »

They called together a council (group) of the town's industrial leaders.

Counsel may be a noun or a verb: »

She could always be counted on for good counsel (advice). Each side tried to get him as its counsel (adviser). I do not like to counsel (advise) you on that point.