council 
2. A body of men specially designated or se- 
lected to advise a sovereign in the administra- 
tion of the government; a privy council : as, 
the president of the council; in English history, 
an order in council. See /iriri/ council, below. 
The king [llenrv IV.] named six bishops, u duke, twu 
earls, t\ lords, including the treasurer and privy seal, and 
seven rommoners, to be nia great mid continual cintiu-it. 
Stubbi, Const. Hist., i 3(17. 
3. In many of the British colonies, a body as- 
sisting the governor in either an executive or 
a legislative capacity, or in both. 4. In the 
Territories of the United States, the upper 
branch of the legislature. The term was used to 
drnote a kind or upper house during the colonial period, 
mill w:i, u HIM .I in thin sense fora few years by some of 
the States. 
5. A common council. See below. 6. In the 
Now Testament, the Sanhedrim, a Jewish court 
or parliament, with functions partly judicial, 
partly legislative, and partly ecclesiastical. See 
The chief priests . . . and all the council sought false 
witness. Mat. xivL 59. 
7. In ecclcs. hint. : (a) An assembly of prelates 
and theologians convened for the purpose of 
regulating matters of doctrine and discipline 
in the church. Ecclesiastical councils are diocemn, 
provincial, national, general, or ecumenical. A diocesan 
riiuih il is oOflBMMfl of the ecclesiastics of a particular 
diocese, with the bishop at their head ; a provincial or 
metropolitan council, of the bishops of an ecclesiastical 
province, with the archbishops at their head ; and a na- 
tional or plenary council, of the bishops and archbishops 
of all the provinces in the nation. (jeneral council and 
ecumenical council are ordinarily regarded as equivalent 
terms, but strictly speaking a general council is one called 
together by an invitation addressed to the church at large, 
and claiming to speak in the name of the whole church. 
Sneh u council is ecumenical only if received by the Catho- 
lic Church in general. None of the general councils most 
widely accepted as ecumenical consisted of even a ma- 
jority of orthodox bishops present in person or by deputy. 
The subsequent consent of the church at large marked 
them as ecumenical, especially their reception by the 
next general council held after the first violence of con- 
troversy had somewhat abated and opposition had lie- 
come local in character. Both emperors and popes have 
summoned general councils. According to Roman Catho- 
lic teaching, a council to be regarded as ecumenical must 
have been called together by the pope, or at least with 
his consent, and its decrees must be confirmed by the 
pope. There are seven ecumenical councils recognized 
as such by both the Greek and Latin or Roman Catholic 
churches, and to some extent also by some Protestant 
theologians: they are tin- lirsl Council of Sice. held in 
;i~> ; the first Council of Constantinople, 381 ; the Council 
of Ephesus, 431 ; the Council of Chalcedon, 451 ; the sec- 
ond Council of Constantinople, 553; the third Council of 
Constantinople, QUO', and the second Council of Nice, 787. 
Other important councils regarded by the Roman Catho- 
lic, but not by either the Greek or the Protestant commu- 
nion, as ecumenical are the Council of Trent (1545 -63) and 
the Council of the Vatican (1889-70). The Anglican Church 
receives the first six councils. (6) An advisory as- 
sembly of clerical or clerical and lay mem- 
bers in certain Reformed denominations. 8. 
Any body or group of persons wielding politi- 
cal power. 
Henry's ambition, like Wolsey's, was mainly set upon 
an influential place in the council* of Europe. 
Stubbn, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 253. 
9f. Same as eoumtel. See counsel Academic 
council, in universities, originally, a committee of the 
faculty or of a nation appointed to prepare and submit 
a project ; now, in some universities, the convocation of 
the different faculties. See general covnc.il of the university 
below. Apostolic council, the meeting of apostles arid 
elders in Jerusalem described in Acts xv. Alilic Coun- 
cil. See aulic. Books of Council and Session, In Scot- 
land, tlie records belonging to the College of Justice, in 
which deeds and other writs are inserted. Cabinet coun- 
cil. See cabinet. Common council, the local legisla- 
ture of a city, corporate town, or borough, when it consists 
of a single liody, as a board of aldermen, or sometimes 
one of two chamliers when it is so divided, or the codec* 
tive title of lioth chambers. In Philadelphia the Common 
t'omiril is the second of two city councils, the first being 
the Select Council ; together they are called the Councils. 
Congregational council, a body called by a Congre- 
gational church to give advice respecting the settlement 
or dismissal of a pastor, or other matters of importance, 
and consisting usually ol' representatives of neighboring 
ehurehes. It is an advisory body, without ecclesiastical 
authority. The ConcregutionalisU of the United States 
have also in recent years organized a representative body 
hearing the name .\<it<<>ii'it ('<m/ii-/l, uhicli meets every 
three years for consultation, but without ecclesiastical au- 
thority. Constantinopoli tan Council. Sec Cnnttanti- 
nopolitan. Council of administration (miYrt.), a coun- 
cil of officers, as at a military post, convened by the com- 
mandiiiK otlieer for the transaction of business. At a mili- 
tary |ist of the tinted States army such a council is 
eallnl at lea-t onee in t\vo months on muster-days, and is 
composed of tllr lit Ire 1 < --i mental or company ollirers next 
in rank to the rommanilin^ ottieer. A regimental council 
consists of three ottieers on duty at headquarters and next 
in rank to tile commanding otlieer. Council Of An- 
cients. BwMciMti. Council of Appointment. See 
appointment. Council of censors, seccv/,,.,, Coun- 
cil of defense, in France, an advisory military council 
convened by the commanding otlieer of a besieged place, 
and consisting of the officer next in rank and the senior 
1209 
officers of engineers and of artillery. Council of Five 
Hundred, in /'//wA hi*t., durinu tile u'overnnient of the 
I'l rectory (1795 -99), an asscmMy ol .KMI members, funning 
the second branch of the Legislative Body, the tint branch 
beim,' the n,iinci| of Kneients. Council of Revision, a 
conni'il existing in the state of New York from 1777 to 
Wil, consisting of the governor, chancellor, and judges of 
the Supreme i on it, and \ -'-t. ,| with a limited veto power. 
Council of safety, in I'. >'. l>i*i., a council formed for the 
prouMonal government of an American state during the 
warofinilepindence. Councilor State I K.. 
in Krunce, an advisory body existing from early times, hut 
developed especially under Philip IV. (1285-1314) and his 
sons. It was often modified, particularly In 1497, and In 
HMO under Richelieu and played an important port dur- 
ing the first empire. Under the present republican govern- 
ment it comprises the ministers and about ninety other 
members, part of whom are nominated by the president, 
and the remainder are elected by the legislative assembly. 
Its chief duties are to give advice upon various adminis- 
trative mutters and ujion legislative measures. Council 
Of Ten, in the ancient republic of Venice, a secret tribu- 
nal instituted in 1310, and continuing down to the over- 
throw of the republic in 1797. It was composed at first of 
ten and later of seventeen members, and exercised unlim- 
ited power in the supervision of Internal and external af- 
fairs, often with great rigor and oppressiveness. Council 
of War (milit. and m* <-<//), an assembly of officers called to 
consult with a commanding officer aliout matters concern- 
ing which he desires their advice. Councils of war are 
ordinarily called only In serious emergencies. The power 
of such a council is merely advisor)'. - Family council. 
See family. General council of the university, in 
Scotch universities, a body consisting of the chancellor, 
the members of the university court (that 1s, the rector, 
principal, and four assessors), the professors, masters of 
arU, doctors of medicine, etr. The council meets twice a 
year, and its duties are to deliberate upon any question 
affecting the university, and make representations regard- 
ing it to the university court. Governor's council, in 
some of the United States, a body of men designated to 
advise the governor, as in Massachusetts and Maine. 
High Council, in the Mormon Church, a body of twelve 
high priests set apart for the purpose of settling impor- 
tant difficulties which may arise. Mormon Catechum, 
p. 17. Indian Councils Act, an English statute of 
1861 (24 and 25 Viet., c. 67) reorganizing the Councils of 
the Governor-General of India. Lords of Council and 
Session, the name given to the judges or senators of the 
College of Justice in Edinburgh. National Council. See 
Congregational council, above. Orders in council. See 
order. Privy council, a board or select Iwdy of personal 
councilors of a chief magistrate in the administration of 
his office ; specifically, in England, the principal body of 
advisers of the sovereign ; the name borne since the fif- 
teenth century by the ordinary council, which superseded 
the ancient curia regis in the reign of Edward 1. The 
privy councilors are nominated at the pleasure of the sov- 
ereign, excepting certain persons appointed ex officio, and 
include at present princes of the blood, principal members 
of existing and past governments, the archbishops, and 
many of the nobility in all, over 200 members. Its ad- 
ministrative functions are exercised chiefly by commit- 
tees, as the Board of Trade, the Local Government Board, 
etc. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, com- 
posed of the lord president, the lord chancellor, and oth- 
ers, has high appellate jurisdiction. Politically the im- 
portance of the Privy Council has been superseded by a 
committee of ministers lielonging to it, called the Cabinet. 
Privy councilors have the title of "right honorable," and 
rank immediately after knights of the Garter. Similar 
bodies formerly existed under this name in several of the 
American colonies and States. =8yn. Meeting, congress, 
convention ; board. 
council-board (koun'sil-bord), n. The board 
or table around which a council holds its ses- 
sions; hence, a council in session; an assem- 
bled board of councilors. 
He hath commanded 
To-morrow morning to the council-board 
He be couvented. Shot., Hen. VIII., . 1. 
When vile Corruption's brazen face 
At council-board shall take her place. 
Chatterton, Prophecy. 
COUncil-bopk (koun'sil-buk), n. In England, 
the book in which the names of privy council- 
ors are entered. 
Halifax was informed that his services were no longer 
needed, and his name was struck out of the council-book. 
Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vi. 
council-chamber (koun'sil-cham'ber), n. An 
apartment occupied by a council, or appropri- 
ated to its deliberations. 
The council chamber for debate. 
Pope, Duke of Morlborough's House. 
council-house (koun'sil-hous), n. A house in 
which a council or deliberative body of any 
kind holds its sessions. 
Mine uncle Beaufort and myself, 
With all the learned council of the realm, 
Studied so long, sat in the council-house 
Early and late, debating to and fro 
How France and Frenchmen might he kept in awe. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., i. 1. 
councilistt (koun'sil-ist), n. [< council + -int.} 
A member of a council ; hence, one who exer- 
cises advisory functions. 
I will in three months be an expert councilist. 
Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
councillor, . See councilor. 
councilman (koun'sil-man), n. ; pi. councilmen 
(-men). A member of a municipal council. Also 
counsel 
called common-con iiciliniin when the body is a 
common council. 
councilor, councillor (koun'sil-or), n. [< M K. 
ciiiinciloiir, innnxelour, CUHIK /'/. cotnifilli r, 
cniinxi ili'f. cniinxi 1/1 /. I'IIIIHCI i/llt r, ciinaeitere, con- 
xi-if/i r, CHIIXII/II i\ coiiiiiiiiliiiif, etc., carlienl I'm-ni 
kunxilcr, being the same as counselor, ult. < L. 
consiliarius, a counselor, adviser: see counselor. 
The distinction of form and sense (councilor, 
one of a council, counselor, one who counsels) 
is modern; there is no OF. or L. form corre- 
sponding to councilor (L. as if * conciliarius) as 
distinguished from counselor (L. consiiiariiu).'] 
1. A member of a council; specifically, a mem- 
ber of a common council or of the British Privy 
Council. See council. 
The wages of the members should be moderate, espe- 
cially those of the lords and the spiritual cmincilliirn. 
Stub!*, Const. Hist., I 366. 
2. One who gives counsel or advice.- councilor 
Of a burgh, in Scotland, a member oi the governing Inxly 
of a burgn, not a magistrate. Sei) totfii council.-- Privy 
Councilor, a member of the private or personal council of 
a sovereign or other person in high authority ; specifical- 
ly, a member of the British Privy Council. 
council-table (koun'sil-ta'bl), n. Same as 
council-board. 
He [Edward IV.] also daily frequented the Council- 
Table, which he furnished for the most Part wftll such 
as were gracious amongst the Citizens, whom he employs 
about References and Businesses of private Consequence. 
Baker, Chronicles, p. 205. 
CO-unet (ko-un'), t>. f. [< L. co-, together, + 
n a HX = K. one.] To combine or join into one. 
Not that man hath three distinct souls : for ... [they] 
are in man one and co-uned together. 
Feltham, Resolves, 1. 95. 
co-unitet (ko-u-nif), r. t. [< co-i + unite.'} To 
unite ; join together. 
These three are Ahod, &tm, Vranore: 
Ahad these three in one doth co-unite. 
Dr. U. More, Psychozola, i. 39. 
CO-unitet (ko-u-nif), a. [< co-unite, r.] Con- 
joined; combined; united. 
Our souls be co-unite 
With the world's spright and body. 
Hi. // More, Psychathanasia. 
counsel (koun'sel). n. [Early mod. E. also conn- 
sell, counsil, council, councel, etc., < ME. counseil, 
consail, conseil, conseyl, cunsail, counceil, etc., 
counsel, consultation, purpose (also in sense of 
council, from which counsel was not distin- 
guished in ME.), < OF. conseil, cunseil, consel, 
consoil, consul, etc., F. conseil = Pr. conselh = 
8p. consiyo = Pg. conselho = It. consiglio, < L. 
concilium, deliberation, consultation, counsel, 
advice, understanding; in a concrete sense, a 
body of persons deliberating, a council (whence 
the confusion in ML., where consilium, in this 
sense, and concilium, a council, are often inter- 
changed, and in Rom. and E., of the two words, 
E. counsel and council), < consulere, consult: see 
consult. Cf. council.] 1. Consultation; delib- 
eration; mutual advising or interchange of 
opinions. 
We took sweet cmintel together. ft. Iv. 14. 
2. Advice ; opinion or instruction given, as the 
result of consultation or request ; aid or instruc- 
tion given in directing the judgment or conduct 
of another. 
There is as much difference between the cottnstl that a 
friend giveth and that a man giveth himself, as there is 
between the couiucl of a friend and of a flatterer. 
Bacon, Friendship. 
Ill counsel had misled the girl. Tennyson, Princess, vii. 
3. Prudence ; due consideration ; wise and cau- 
tious exercise of judgment ; examination of con- 
sequences. 
They all confess that in the working of that first cause, 
cottntfl is used, reason followed, and a way observed. 
Hooter, Eccles. Polity, I. | 2. 
O how comely is the wisdom of old men, and under- 
standing and counsel to men of honour ! Ecclus. xxv. 5. 
4. Deliberate purpose ; design ; intent ; scheme ; 
plan. 
To shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of 
his counsel. Heb. vi. 17. 
5t. A private or secret opinion or purpose; 
consultation in secret ; concealment. 
1 is but a pastime -mild at 
.Amongst yourselves in countel ; hut beware 
Of being overheard. Ford, Fancies, i. 3. 
Who's your doctor, Phantute? 
Nay, that's cvun*rl, Philautia ; you shall pardon me. 
B. Jtintsiin, Cynthia's Kevels. ii. 1. 
6. One who gives counsel, especially in mat- 
ters of law ; a counselor or advocate, or sev- 
eral such, engaged in the direction or the trial 
