advice
advice
Pronunciation
Advice: /ədˈvaɪs/
First Syllable: /əd/
/ə/ - schwa (like the 'a' in "about")
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop (like the 'd' in "dog")
Second Syllable: /vaɪs/
/v/ - voiced labiodental fricative (like the 'v' in "van")
/aɪ/ - diphthong (like the 'i' in "ice")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative (like the 's' in "snake")
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Uncountable: advice (e.g., "I need some advice.")
Countable (less common, usually refers to a specific piece of advice): an advice (e.g., "He gave me an important advice.") - Note: "a piece of advice" or "some advice" is far more common for countable instances.
Plural (rare, usually replaced by "pieces of advice"): advices (e.g., "He gave me many advices." - This is generally considered grammatically incorrect or very informal; "many pieces of advice" is preferred.)
Verb:
Base Form: advise (e.g., "I advise you to study.")
Third Person Singular Present: advises (e.g., "She advises him regularly.")
Present Participle/Gerund: advising (e.g., "He is advising his client." / "Advising others is his passion.")
Past Simple: advised (e.g., "They advised me to leave.")
Past Participle: advised (e.g., "I have been advised to rest.")
Adjective (related, but not a direct variation of "advice"):
advisable (e.g., "It is advisable to wear a helmet.")
advisory (e.g., "an advisory committee")
Adverb (related, but not a direct variation of "advice"):
advisably (e.g., "You should advisably check the weather.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun: advice
Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action, often based on knowledge or experience.
Synonyms: counsel, guidance, recommendation, suggestion, instruction, tip, wisdom, opinion, admonition
Antonyms: misdirection, misleading, deception, warning (in a negative sense of telling someone not to do something when it would be beneficial)
Information or news; a notification or report. (This usage is less common in modern English but historically present, especially in formal contexts like "advices from abroad.")
Synonyms: news, information, report, notification, dispatch, intelligence
Antonyms: silence, secrecy, concealment
Verb: advise
To offer counsel or guidance to someone; to recommend a course of action.
Synonyms: recommend, suggest, counsel, guide, instruct, urge, caution, warn, recommend
Antonyms: dissuade, deter, discourage, mislead, misguide, deceive
To inform or notify someone about something.
Synonyms: inform, notify, apprise, tell, report, announce, communicate, enlighten
Antonyms: withhold, conceal, hide, keep secret, fail to inform
Examples of Use
Books:
"The best advice my father ever gave me was to always be true to myself, even when it's difficult." (From a memoir, published in March 2023)
In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Darcy's initial advice to Bingley against Jane Bennet's character causes much of the conflict. (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, January 1813)
Newspapers:
"Financial experts offer advice on navigating the current economic uncertainty." ( The New York Times)
"Local authorities issued urgent advice to residents concerning flood preparedness as the storm approached." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Career counselors often give advice to recent graduates on resume building and interview skills." (Forbes.com)
"Our tech column provides weekly advice on cybersecurity best practices for home users." (Wired.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In The Devil Wears Prada, Andrea Sachs frequently seeks advice from Nigel regarding her fashion industry challenges. (Released June 2006)
Television Series: "Dr. House often gives unconventional, yet effective, medical advice to his patients, much to the chagrin of his team." (From an episode of House, M.D., originally aired October 2008)
Podcasts: "This week's episode features a renowned life coach sharing advice on maintaining work-life balance." (From "The Daily Life Coach Podcast,")
Video Games: Many role-playing games feature Non-Player Characters (NPCs) who offer quests and valuable advice to the player character. (e.g., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, November 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you give me some advice on which laptop to buy?" (A common question in a technology store)
"My grandmother always said the best advice she ever received was to save a little money from every paycheck." (A common phrase in familial conversations)
"I went to a community workshop seeking advice on starting a small business." (A participant's comment at a local event)
"He didn't take my advice about leaving early, and now he's stuck in traffic." (A remark between friends)
10 Quotes Using Advice
"My advice to you is to get married: if you find a good wife you'll be happy; if not, you'll become a philosopher." (Socrates)
"The best advice I ever got was that I didn't have to follow anybody's advice." (Oprah Winfrey)
"Never take advice from someone who hasn't paid the price." (Unknown, widely attributed to various self-help gurus)
"Here's my advice: Go ahead and be yourself. The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful." (Unknown, popular on social media)
"Old men give good advice because they can no longer set a bad example." (François de La Rochefoucauld)
"When you ask for advice, you're asking for a story." (Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)
"To offer a man advice is to take on his troubles." (Unknown, a proverb of various origins)
"My only advice is to stay hungry and foolish." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, June 2005)
"People will give you their advice and tell you what they think you should do. Don't be afraid to politely decline." (Unknown, found in many self-help articles)
"The best advice is that which one does not take." (Unknown, often attributed to Oscar Wilde, though not definitively)
Etymology
The word "advice" has a fascinating journey through languages!
It originally comes from the Latin word "videre," which means "to see." From this, we get "visum," meaning "something seen" or "a view."
This Latin root then made its way into Old French. There, you'd find phrases like "ço m'est à vis," which meant "it seems to me" or "in my opinion." So, the word "avis" in Old French started out meaning "opinion," "view," or "judgment."
The English word "advice" (and its verb form "advise") came from this Old French "avis" around the late 13th century. At first, in Middle English, "advice" was spelled "auys" or "avis" and primarily meant "opinion" or "judgment."
Over time, especially in the 15th century, an extra "d" was added to the word, likely influenced by other Latin words starting with "ad-." Later, in the 18th century, the "c" replaced the "s" in "advice" (the noun) to help distinguish it from "advise" (the verb), and to keep the "s" sound at the end.
So, the core meaning of "advice" evolving from "what is seen" or "one's view" to "an opinion offered as guidance" makes a lot of sense, as you're sharing your perspective on a situation.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Advice
A word of advice: A brief piece of counsel.
Ask for advice: To request guidance.
Give advice: To offer guidance.
Take advice: To follow recommended guidance.
Seek advice: To look for guidance.
On the advice of: Following the guidance of.
Heed advice: To pay attention to and follow guidance.
Sound advice: Wise and practical guidance.
Good advice: Helpful and beneficial guidance.
Bad advice: Unhelpful or detrimental guidance.
Professional advice: Guidance from an expert in a specific field.
Legal advice: Guidance concerning legal matters.
Medical advice: Guidance concerning health matters.
Financial advice: Guidance concerning money and investments.
Advisory role: A position focused on giving guidance.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of advice from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
