Lewis & Short

consultātĭo, ōnis, f. [2. consulto].

  1. I. A mature deliberation, consideration, consultation.
    1. A. In gen. (rare but class.).
      1. 1. Abstr., * Ter. Hec. 4, 4, 28; Cic. de Or. 2, 33, 142; id. Inv. 2, 25, 76 fin.; id. Off. 3, 12, 50; Suet. Ner. 41 al.
        With ne: per aliquot dies tenuit ea consultatio, ne non reddita bona belli causā … essent, Liv. 2, 3, 5.
        In plur., Sall. J. 27, 2.
      2. 2. Concr., a subject of consultation: copiose de consultationibus suis disputare, Cic. Top. 17, 66.
    2. B. Esp., rhet. t. t.
      1. 1. A case proposed for decision, an inquiry concerning a case in law: consultationem proponere, Quint. 3, 8, 59: cum apud C. Caesarem consultatio de poenā Theodoti proponitur, id. 3, 8, 55; Dig. 31, 35.
      2. 2. A general inquiry upon a subject, a consideration of a principle, = quaestio infinita (opp.: definita controversia certis temporibus ac reis), Cic. de Or. 3, 28, 109: sive in infinitis consultationibus disceptatur, sive in iis causis quae in civitate et forensi disceptatione versantur, id. ib. 3, 29, 111; id. Part. Or. 1, 4; id. Off. 3, 7, 33; id Att. 9, 4, 1 sqq.
  2. II. An asking of advice, inquiry (rare).
    1. A. Abstr.: tuas litteras exspecto, ut sciam, quid respondeant consultationi meae, Cic. Att. 8, 4, 3: honesta consultatio, non expedita sententia, Plin. Ep. 7, 18, 1: redeunt illi sermones, illae consultationes, id. ib. 8, 23, 6.
      So of the questioning of the emperor by the prætor, an asking for instructions: visa est enim mihi res digna consultatione, Plin. Ep. 10, 96 (97), 9; Dig. 4, 4, 11.
    2. B. Concr., the inquiry addressed to an oracle (transl. of πεῦσις), Macr. S. 1, 17, 50.
      Plur.: de consultationibus in Aponi fontem talos aureos jacere, Suet. Tib. 14.