plea

Meanings

Noun

• An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty.
• An excuse; an apology.
• That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification.
• That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause.
• An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer.
• The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand.
• A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas.

Verb

• To plead; to argue.

Related

Similar words

• plaidoyer

Origin

• From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum ("a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., {{etyl") an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure}}, neuter of placitus, past participle of placere. Cognate with Spanish pleito ("lawsuit, suit"). placit and placate. See also please, pleasure.