COUNCILS
Noun
councils
plural of council
Source: Wiktionary
COUNCIL
Coun"cil (koun"sl), n. Etym: [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- +
calare to call, akin to Gr. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word
is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]
1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation,
deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation
in a critical case.
2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a
legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council.
An old lord of the council rated me the other day. Shak.
3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation.
Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night.
Milton.
O great in action and in council wise. Pope.
Aulic council. See under Aulic.
– Cabinet council. See under Cabinet.
– City council, the legislative branch of a city government,
usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but
sometimes otherwise constituted.
– Common council. See under Common.
– Council board, Council table, the table round which a council
holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation.
– Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets.
– Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians
hold their councils. [U.S.] Barilett.
– Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to
consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or
importance or nesessity.
– Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines
convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of
doctrine or discipline.
– Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief
magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] -- Legislative
council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate.
– Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.]
Syn.
– Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention;
convocation; synod.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition