plea

plea
noun Etymology: Middle English ple, plede, from Anglo-French plai, pleit from Medieval Latin placitum, from Latin, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre to please, be decided — more at please Date: 13th century 1. a legal suit or action 2. an allegation made by a party in support of a cause: as a. an allegation of fact — compare demurrer b. (1) a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice (2) an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice c. a plea of guilty to an indictment 3. something offered by way of excuse or justification <
left early with the plea of a headache
>
4. an earnest entreaty ; appeal <
their plea for understanding must be answered
>
Synonyms: see apology

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • plea — / plē/ n [Anglo French plei plai legal action, trial, from Old French plait plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum, from Latin, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre to please, be decided] 1 a: an allegation of fact… …   Law dictionary

  • plea — [pliː] noun [countable usually singular] LAW a statement by someone in a court of law, saying whether they are guilty of a crime or not: • Your honor, we enter (= make ) a plea of not guilty . * * …   Financial and business terms

  • plea — [pli:] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: plait, plaid, from Latin placitum decision , from placere; PLEASE2] 1.) a request that is urgent or full of emotion plea for ▪ a plea for help ▪ Caldwell made a plea for donations …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Plea — Plea, n. [OE. plee, plai, plait, fr. OF. plait, plaid, plet, LL. placitum judgment, decision, assembly, court, fr. L. placitum that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere to please. See {Please}, and cf. {Placit}, {Plead}.] 1.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plea — [ pli ] noun count ** 1. ) an urgent or emotional request for something: plea for: The police ignored her pleas for help. make a plea: The boy s parents have made an emotional plea for him to come home. 2. ) LEGAL a statement that someone makes… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Plea — bezeichnet: eine Wanze namens Plea minutissima, Plea leachi oder Plea atomaria, deutsch Wasserzwerg in angloamerikanisch geprägten Strafprozessen ein Bekenntnis des Angeklagten auf „schuldig“ (guilty plea) oder „nicht schuldig“ (not guilty plea) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • plea — [plē] n. [ME plai < OFr plaid, suit, plea < L placitum, opinion, order, orig. that which is pleasing, orig. neut. pp. of placere, to PLEASE] 1. a statement in defense or justification; excuse 2. an earnest and urgent request; appeal;… …   English World dictionary

  • plea — (n.) early 13c., lawsuit, from Anglo Fr. plai (late 12c.), O.Fr. plait lawsuit, decision, decree (9c.), from M.L. placitum lawsuit, in classical Latin, opinion, decree, lit. that which pleases, thing which is agreed upon, properly neuter pp. of… …   Etymology dictionary

  • plea — [n1] begging request appeal, application, entreaty, imploration, imprecation, intercession, orison, overture, petition, prayer, round robin*, solicitation, suit, supplication; concept 662 Ant. answer, reply plea [n2] excuse, defense action, alibi …   New thesaurus

  • Plea — Plea, Gattung der Wanzenart Notonectides …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • plea — 1 *apology, apologia, excuse, pretext, alibi Analogous words: explanation, justification, rationalization (see corresponding verbs at EXPLAIN): defense, vindication (see corresponding verbs at MAINTAIN) 2 *prayer, suit, petition, appeal Analogous …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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