council English · revision 3379

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1125 (Peterborough Chronicle)|origins=la calāre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkaʊn.səl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|concilie]], later counseil and councel,^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|xno|cuncile]] and Old North French concilie,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|concilium|t=a gathering, meeting, assembly]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|con-|t=together]] and -cilium, related to [[m|la|calāre|t=to call out, summon]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*kelh₁-|alt=*kele-|t=to shout]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The notion is of a calling together.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Merriam-Webster notes that its meaning was influenced by Middle English counseil “counsel”.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An assembly of churchmen: 1125,^(Barnhart 1988) or the early 12th century, in the Church sense of an assembly of prelates and theologians regulating doctrine.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An assembly for consultation or advice, such as a family council, is from about 1275,^(OED 1989) and an assembly called together for any purpose from before 1300.^(OED 1989) ''Council'' and [[counsel]] were often confused in early English;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) in the 16th century ''council'' became established for the deliberative body, and ''counsel'' was restricted to the giving of advice.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) ''Council house'' is from before 1393 and ''council chamber'' from 1407.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Councilman'' is from before 1637, in Ben Jonson, and ''councillor'' was altered from ''counsellor'' under the influence of ''council'' in the 14th century.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) In the New Testament, from 1382, ''council'' rendered the Greek [[m|grc|συνέδριον|tr=sunédrion]], the Sanhedrin.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1125 – an assembly of churchmen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1275 – an assembly for advice.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – the Sanhedrin, in the New Testament.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1393 – ''council house''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1407 – ''council chamber''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 16th century – distinguished from ''counsel''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1637 – ''councilman''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An assembly of people called together for [[consultation]] or discussion.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A body of people elected or appointed to govern or advise, as of a town.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An assembly of church officials and theologians: ''an ecumenical council''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[councilperson]]

+ * [[subcouncil]]

+ * [[councillor]]

+ * [[councilor]]

+ * [[councilman]]

+ * [[councilmember]]

+ * [[councilwoman]]

+ * [[church council]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[conciliate]]

+ * [[reconcile]]

+ * [[counsel]]

+ * [[conciliar]]

+ * [[calends]]

+ * [[claim]]

+ * [[consul]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''council'', ''counsel'' and ''consul'' are never interchangeable: ''council'' refers mainly to a deliberative assembly and its members, ''counsel'' to advice or to a person who gives it, such as a lawyer, and ''consul'' to an officer in a country's foreign service.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}