great council: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2+)Historical, Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “great council” mean?
A formal assembly of nobles, advisors, or representatives in a medieval kingdom, typically convened by the monarch to discuss matters of state, grant taxes, or advise on policy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal assembly of nobles, advisors, or representatives in a medieval kingdom, typically convened by the monarch to discuss matters of state, grant taxes, or advise on policy.
1. A supreme legislative or advisory body in historical contexts, especially in medieval England (precursor to Parliament). 2. (Capitalized: Great Council) A specific historical institution, like the Witenagemot in Anglo-Saxon England or the Magnum Concilium of Norman and Plantagenet kings. 3. By extension, a term used for any major or plenary council within an organization, church, or state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in UK and US historical/academic writing.
Connotations
In British history, it strongly connotes the direct predecessor of Parliament. In a broader context, it lacks strong national connotations.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialized texts.
Grammar
How to Use “great council” in a Sentence
The [MONARCH] summoned a great council at [PLACE].The Great Council of [COUNTRY/REALM] advised on [MATTER].Decisions made by the great council required the assent of [PARTICIPANTS].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great council” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [The term is not used as a verb]
American English
- [The term is not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [The term is not used as an adverb]
American English
- [The term is not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [The term is not used attributively as an adjective. It is a compound noun.]
American English
- [The term is not used attributively as an adjective. It is a compound noun.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used precisely in historical texts to describe pre-parliamentary advisory bodies in medieval Europe.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in legal history and constitutional history to denote a specific type of feudal assembly.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great council”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great council”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great council”
- Using it to describe a modern business meeting. *'The CEO called a great council of department heads.' (Incorrect)
- Confusing it with 'Privy Council'. The great council was larger and more public.
- Using lowercase when referring to a specific, capitalized historical institution (e.g., 'the Great Council of Venice').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. The Great Council (or Magnum Concilium) is considered the direct predecessor of Parliament. Parliament developed from it, becoming a more formal, representative, and powerful institution with established houses (Lords and Commons).
No. This would be historically inaccurate and confusing. Use terms like 'executive summit', 'board meeting', or 'plenary session' instead.
A Great Council was a large, occasional assembly of major nobles and clergy. A Privy Council was (and in some countries, still is) a much smaller, permanent group of the monarch's closest advisors who met regularly to handle day-to-day governance.
No, not by modern standards. It represented the interests of a very small, powerful elite (the feudal nobility and senior clergy), not the common people. Its power was advisory, and the monarch was not always bound by its decisions.
A formal assembly of nobles, advisors, or representatives in a medieval kingdom, typically convened by the monarch to discuss matters of state, grant taxes, or advise on policy.
Great council is usually historical, formal, academic in register.
Great council: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈkaʊn.səl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈkaʊn.səl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this historical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GREat King calling a big COUNcil of all his important lords – a GREAT COUNCIL. Think 'Great' as in large/important, not just good.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A BODY (the council is the assembled body of the realm).
Practice
Quiz
In a medieval context, what was the primary function of a 'great council'?