consilio

Consilio is a Latin term formed as the dative or ablative singular of the neuter noun consilium. The base form consilium means a plan, purpose, or advice; it can also denote a council or deliberation in some contexts. In the singular, consilium can refer to a recommendation or guidance given to someone, an intentional plan or strategy, or the act of deliberating. In the plural, consilia denotes multiple plans or counsels and, less often, a group of advisers or a council.

In Latin usage, consilium commonly expresses the idea of advice or deliberation rather than a formal institution; when referring to a formal council, classical authors more often use concilium or a sense of “a body of advisers.” The phrase ex consiliō can mean “from the advice” or “by council.” The ablative consiliō is also used to express means, or to convey a sense of “by means of the plan.” Constructions with consilium appear across military, political, and legal Latin.

Etymology traces consilium to the verb consulere, meaning to take counsel or consult; the sense broadened to include “plan” and “advice.” The word appears in scholarly Latin and survives in various proper names and mottoes, where it is sometimes treated as a stylistic or technical term.

Grammatical notes: consilium is a second-declension neuter noun; the dative and ablative singular form is consiliō (often written as consilio in plain text). Plural forms include consilia (nominative/accusative) and consiliōrum (genitive).