Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “counsel” come from?

Counsel comes from Middle English counseil, from Old French conseil, from Latin concilium, ultimately derived from Latin com- meaning "together."

counsel (English): The exchange of opinions and advice especially in...

Definitions

  1. The exchange of opinions and advice especially in...

Ancestry of “counsel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcounseil—
2Old Frenchconseilpiece of advice
3Latinconsiliumplan, intention, design, purpose; counsel,...
4Latincōnsulō—
5Latincom-allomorph of con-
6Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “counsel”

  • counseling
  • counselee
  • cocounsel
  • counselleth
  • cybercounseling
  • counsellest
  • counsellee
  • counseleth
  • counsellable
  • counselest
  • precounsel
  • e-counseling
  • anticounseling
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →