Etymology : Middle English, from Latin; perhaps akin to Latin consulere to consult
Pronunciation : 'kän(t)-s&l
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. official chosen by a government to represent its interests in a foreign country. consul\con"sul\ (k&obreve;n"sŭl), n. [l., prob. fr. consulere to deliberate. see:
consult.].
2. (rom. antiq.) one of the two chief magistrates of the republic.note: they were chosen annually, originally from the patricians only, but later from the plebeians also.
3. a senator; a counselor. [obs.] many of the consuls, raised and met, are at the duke's already. with kings and consuls of the earth. iii. 14 (douay ver. ).
4. (fr. hist.) one of the three chief magistrates of france from 1799 to 1804, who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.
5. an official commissioned to reside in some foreign country, to care for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen.consul general, a consul of the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having jurisdiction in several places or over several consuls.
6. One of the two chief magistrates of the republic.
7. A senator; a counselor.
8. One of the three chief magistrates of France from 1799 to 1804, who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.
9. An official commissioned to reside in some foreign country, to care for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen. a diplomat appointed by a government to protect its commercial interests and help its citizens in a foreign country.
10. A consul is an official who is sent by his or her government to live in a foreign city in order to look after all the people there that belong to his or her own country. a government official who is sent to live in a foreign city in order to help people from his or her own country who are living or staying there ambassador (consulere; CONSULT). In the Roman republic, either of two annually elected chief magistrates. The consuls had sacred rights and near-absolute authority. They were nominated by the Senate and elected by the popular assembly; each could veto the other's decisions. As heads of state, they commanded the army, presided over the Senate and assemblies and acted on their decrees, and handled foreign affairs. At the end of his one-year term, a consul was generally appointed to serve as governor of a province. The office continued in weaker form under the empire.