[f. CONSULT v. + -ER1; see also CONSULTOR.]
† 1. A member of a council or consultory body; = CONSULTOR. Obs.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 185. Diodor saith that the Chaldes called two and thirty starres the gods consulters.
1670. Walton, Lives, II. 115. One of their Consulters of State.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. III. v. 110. Present the Cardinals and Consulters.
† b. One who takes part in a ‘consult’ (see CONSULT sb.1 2). Obs. rare.
1679. Oates, Narr. Popish Plot, 18. At which Consult … the Deponent was present to attend the Consulters.
2. One who consults (a person, a book, etc.); one who seeks counsel, advice, or instruction.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 249. The Delphian oracle … a goat is there immolated by the consulters.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 14, ¶ 9. The consulter who asks advice which he never takes.
1826. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. II. (1863), 442. The fair consulter of destiny … had by this time recovered from the shame of her detection.
1881. Academy, 5 Nov., 343. The consulter of a dictionary.
† b. One who takes counsel with. Obs.
1611. Bible, Deut. xviii. 11. A consulter with familiar spirits.
1637–50. Row, Hist. Kirk (1842), 48. Consulters with witches ordained to make publict repentance.
1718. Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, 184. Witch, Wizzard, and Consulter with familiar Spirits.
