COUNCIL, n. [L., to call, Gr. See Hold. This word is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection. Council is a collection or assembly.]

1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation and advice. The kings of England were formerly assisted by a grand council of peers. The chief priests and all the council sought false witness. – Matth. xx. The word is applicable to any body of men, appointed or convened for consultation and advice, in important affairs; as, a council of divines or clergymen, with their lay delegates; a council of war, consisting of the principal officers, to advise the commander in chief or admiral; a council of physicians, to consult and advise in difficult cases of disease.
2. A body of men specially designated to advise a chief magistrate in the administration of the government, as in Great Britain.
3. In some of the American states, a branch of the legislature, corresponding with the senate in other states, and called legislative council. – New Jersey.
4. An assembly of prelates and doctors, convened for regulating matters of doctrine and discipline in the church.
5. Act of deliberation; consultation of a council. – Milton. Common-Council of a city. In London, a court consisting of the lord mayor and aldermen in one house, and of representatives of the several wards, called common-councilmen, in the other. But more generally the common-council is considered as the body of representatives of the citizens, as distinct from the mayor and aldermen. Thus, in Connecticut, the cities are incorporated by the name of “The Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council, and Freemen, of the city of Hartford, New Haven, &c.” Ecumenical Council, in Church history, a general council or assembly of prelates and doctors, representing the whole church; as, the council of Nice, of Ephesus, and of Chalcedon. Encyc. Privy Council, a select council for advising a king in the administration of the government. Aulic Council. [See Aulic.]

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.] Bartlett. -- 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.