Plea Definition
plē
pleas
noun
pleas
An earnest and urgent request; appeal; entreaty.
Webster's New World
A statement in defense or justification; excuse.
Webster's New World
The response of a defendant to criminal charges.
A plea of not guilty.
Webster's New World
A pleading or allegation, now, esp., in a civil action.
Webster's New World
A special answer in an equity action, setting forth in lieu of a detailed response a basis for dismissing, delaying, or barring the suit.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Plea
Noun
Singular:
plea
Plural:
pleasOrigin of Plea
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From Middle English, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentece, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure"), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please").
From Wiktionary
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Middle English plai lawsuit from Old French plai, plaid from Late Latin placitum decree from Latin from neuter past participle of placēre to please plāk-1 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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