Council

Pronunciation

• enPR: kounʹ-sÉ™l, IPA: /ˈkaÊŠn.sÉ™l/
• Homophones: counsel

Origin

From Anglo-Norman cuncile, from Old French concile, from Latin concilium.

Full definition of council

Noun

1. A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council).
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter Foreword, He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.
2. Discussion or deliberation.
• MiltonSatan ... void of rest,
  His potentates to council called by night.
• Alexander PopeO great in action and in council wise.

Hyponyms

• synod