Council

A council is a municipal body where mediocre people make bad decisions about local affairs. “Council” comes from concilium, the Latin word for an assembly or convocation of clever people: con- (‘together’) + calare (‘to summon’).

A council is not, ever, a legal adviser: not even a mediocre one. The word you are after is counsel. This also comes from Latin: consilium (‘consultation, advice’), and the verb consulere (‘to consult’).

Lawyers (even mediocre ones) will laugh up their sleeves at you should you suggest the need to go and seek council’s advice. A council never gave sensible advice to anyone. Okay, okay, you might say your average counsel isn’t much better.

See also

• It’s Isder not Eye-ess-dee-aye
• Swap does not rhyme with crap