Counsel means advice or guidance, especially about important decisions. When you seek someone's counsel, you're asking for their wisdom and experience to help you think through a problem. A trusted teacher might offer counsel about which books to read, or a coach might give counsel about improving your skills.

The word carries weight: it's not casual advice like “try the chocolate ice cream.” Counsel is thoughtful guidance about things that matter. A parent might counsel their child about how to handle a difficult friendship, or a mentor might counsel a student about preparing for a challenging competition.

In law, counsel also refers to a lawyer or legal advisor. The defense counsel represents someone accused of a crime, and the prosecution counsel represents the government. When the Constitution promises the right to counsel, it means the right to have a lawyer help you.

The phrase “keep your own counsel” means to keep your thoughts and plans private rather than sharing them with everyone. Someone who keeps their own counsel thinks carefully before speaking and doesn't feel the need to announce every opinion or decision.

Notice how counsel combines giving advice (the noun) with the act of advising someone (the verb). You can receive good counsel, and someone can counsel you wisely.