plead
- to appeal or entreat earnestly: to plead for time.
- to use arguments or persuasions, as with a person, for or against something: She pleaded with him not to take the job.
- to afford an argument or appeal: His youth pleads for him.
- Law.
- to make any allegation or plea in an action at law.
- to put forward an answer on the part of a defendant to a legal declaration or charge.
- to address a court as an advocate.
- Obsolete.to prosecute a suit or action at law.
- to allege or urge in defense, justification, or excuse: to plead ignorance.
- Law.
- to maintain (a cause) by argument before a court.
- to allege or set forth (something) formally in an action at law.
- to allege or cite in legal defense: to plead a statute of limitations.
Origin of plead
Synonyms for plead
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for plead
ask, pray, appeal, solicit, petition, respond, cite, assert, maintain, argue, allege, declare, beseech, importune, entreat, implore, crave, supplicate, crawl, adduceExamples from the Web for plead
Contemporary Examples of plead
The camera passes to each hostage in turn to allow them to plead with the Lebanese government to let them live.
He did not plead guilty, and has regularly filed petitions in an effort to prove his innocence.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015Movements.Org
December 25, 2014
The news that Grimm was set to plead guilty sent shockwaves through the leadership of the Republican Party on Staten Island.
On Friday, many of the minors came back to plead to the residents that this was their only home.
Christian conservative Sen. Larry Craig plead guilty for soliciting sex in the Minneapolis airport bathroom in 2007.
‘7th Heaven’ Dad Stephen Collins and the Christian Right’s Real Morality TaleAmanda Marcotte
October 8, 2014
Historical Examples of plead
It is not for Aspasia, the gifted daughter of Axiochus, that I plead.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Will their successors falter and plead organic impotency in the nation?
So expect not any advocateship from me: I will not plead for you; and that's enough.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
But what then can I plead for a palliation to myself of my mother's sufferings on my account?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
They tried to make her plead 'Not guilty,' but she wouldn't lie about it, she said.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
plead
- (when intr, often foll by with) to appeal earnestly or humbly (to)
- (tr; may take a clause as object) to give as an excuse; offer in justification or extenuationto plead ignorance; he pleaded that he was insane
- (intr often foll by for) to provide an argument or appeal (for)her beauty pleads for her
- law to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) in answer to the charge
- law to advocate (a case) in a court of law
- (intr) law
- to file pleadings
- to address a court as an advocate
Word Origin for plead
Word Origin and History for plead
mid-13c., "make a plea in court," from Anglo-French pleder, Old French plaidier, "plead at court" (11c.), from Medieval Latin placitare, from Late Latin placitum (see plea). Sense of "request, beg" first recorded late 14c. Related: Pleaded; pleading; pleadingly.