plead
verbcommon in dialogue
- //pliːd//
- //plɛd//
To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.
verb
- 1
To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.
The defendant has decided to plead not guilty.
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
At the High Court in Aberdeen in September, NR pleaded guilty to a series of failings, including failing to tell the driver that it was unsafe to drive the train at the 75mph line speed.
- 2
To beg, beseech, or implore, especially emotionally.
He pleaded with me not to leave the house.
He was pleading for mercy.
- 3
To offer by way of excuse.
Not wishing to attend the banquet, I pleaded illness.
It is no defence to plead that you were only obeying orders.
From there Prince Rupert, the Royalist general and nephew of Charles I, demanded over £2,000 from the mayor of Leicester to pay the king's forces who were camped around Queniborough. The mayor, however, pleaded poverty and sent only £500.
- 4
To discuss by arguments.
Etymology
From Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaider (“to plead, offer a plea”), from plait, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc.", in Classical Latin, "an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placeō (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleitear (“to litigate, take to court”).
Forms
- past tense
- pleaded, pled
- past participle
- pleaded, pled
- present participle
- pleading
- third person singular
- pleads
plead · To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.
pleading · The act of making a plea.pleasant · Giving pleasure; pleasing in manner.Pleasant · A surname.