plead (pl d)v. plead·ed or pled (pl d), plead·ing, pleads v.intr.1. To appeal earnestly; beg: plead for more time. 2. To offer reasons for or against something; argue earnestly: plead against a bill. 3. To provide an argument or appeal: Your youth pleads for you in this instance. 4. Law a. To put forward a plea of a specific nature in court: plead guilty. b. To make or answer an allegation in a legal proceeding. c. To address a court as a lawyer or advocate. v.tr.1. To assert as defense, vindication, or excuse; claim as a plea: plead illness. 2. Law a. To present as an answer to a charge, indictment, or declaration made against one. b. To argue or present (a case) in a court or similar tribunal.
[Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaidier, from Medieval Latin placit re, to appeal to the law, from Late Latin placitum, decree, opinion; see plea.]
plead a·ble adj. plead er n. plead ing·ly adv. Usage Note: In strict legal usage, one is said to plead guilty or plead not guilty but not to plead innocent. In nonlegal contexts, however, plead innocent is well established. |
plead Verb [pleading, pleaded, plead] or esp Scot & US pled 1. (sometimes foll. by with)to ask with deep feeling 2. to give as an excuse: whenever she invites him to dinner, he pleads a prior engagement 3. Law to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) of the charge made against one 4. Law to present (a case) in a court of law [Latin placere to please]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | plead - appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop"appeal, invoke - request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection; "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble" beg, implore, pray - call upon in supplication; entreat; "I beg you to stop!" | | 2. | plead - offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity" | | 3. | plead - enter a plea, as in courts of law; "She pleaded not guilty"law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" declare - state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with" | | 4. | plead - make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new factslaw, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" allege, aver, say - report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money" |
plead verb 1. appeal, ask, request, beg, petition, crave, solicit, implore, beseech, entreat, importune, supplicate
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