a. [f. COUNSEL sb. + -LESS.] Void or bereft of counsel.
c. 1300. Proverb. Verses, in Rel. Ant., II. 15. King conseilles, Bissop loreles, Wumman schameles.
c. 1400. Beryn, 2313. Ffor her I have no frendship; but am al counselles.
1593. Munday, Def. Contraries, 82. Some coward, hart-lesse … or councel-lesse creature.
1845. Examiner, 29 Nov., 753/3. Our Government is passive, counselless, helpless.
1877. Mrs. Oliphant, Makers Flor., xi. 264. Leaderless, counselless, as they were.
