plead

plead
verb past tense pleaded or pled, especially AmE
1 (I) to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way: “Don't go!” Robert pleaded.
(+ for): The hostages' families pleaded for their safe return. | plead with sb to do sth: Moira pleaded with her mother to let her go out. | a pleading voice
2 (intransitive, transitive not in passive) law to state in a court of law whether or not you are guilty of a crime: You are charged with grand theft. How do you plead? | plead guilty/not guilty/innocent: Henderson pled not guilty to the charge of murder. | The accused is mentally unstable, and unfit to plead.
3 plead ignorance/illness/insanity etc to give a particular excuse for your actions: Well, if a cop stops you for speeding, you can always plead ignorance. | She left early, pleading a headache.
4 (T) to speak or argue in support of something: plead that: Politicians pleaded that raising teachers' salaries would make the job more attractive.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • plead — / plēd/ vb plead·ed or pled also plead / pled/, plead·ing [Anglo French plaider to argue in a court of law, from Old French plaid legal action, trial more at plea] vi …   Law dictionary

  • Plead — Plead, v. t. 1. To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury. [1913 Webster] Every man should… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Plead — Plead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pleaded} (colloq. {Plead}or {Pled}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Pleading}.] [OE. pleden, plaiden, OF. plaidier, F. plaider, fr. LL. placitare, fr. placitum. See {Plea}.] 1. To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Plead — Plead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pleaded} (colloq. {Plead}or {Pled}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Pleading}.] [OE. pleden, plaiden, OF. plaidier, F. plaider, fr. LL. placitare, fr. placitum. See {Plea}.] 1. To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plead — [pli:d] v [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: plaidier, from plaid; PLEA] 1.) [I and T] to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way = ↑beg ▪ Don t go! Robert pleaded. plead for ▪ Civil rights groups pleaded… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • plead — [ plid ] (past tense and past participle pleaded or pled [ pled ] ) verb ** 1. ) intransitive to ask for something in an urgent or emotional way: plead for: He knelt in front of the king, pleading for mercy. plead with someone (to do something):… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • plead — [pliːd] verb pleaded PTandPP or pled PTandPP [pled] [intransitive, transitive] LAW to state in a court of law whether you are guilty of a crime or not …   Financial and business terms

  • plead — The past tense and past participle in standard BrE are both pleaded, but pled and plead (pronounced pled) are used as well as pleaded in America, Scotland, and some dialects in the UK. In legal usage, an accused person can plead guilty or not… …   Modern English usage

  • plead — [plēd] vi. pleaded or pled or plead [pled] pleading [ME pleden < OFr plaidier < plaid: see PLEA] 1. a) to present a case in a law court; argue the case of either party b) to present a PLEA (sense …   English World dictionary

  • plead — [v1] beg, request appeal, ask, beseech, cop a plea*, crave, crawl, entreat, entreaty, implore, importune, make up for, petition, pray, solicit, square things*, supplicate; concept 48 Ant. answer, reply plead [v2] present a defense adduce,… …   New thesaurus

  • plead — (v.) mid 13c., make a plea in court, from Anglo Fr. pleder, O.Fr. pleider, plaidier, agreement, discussion, lawsuit, from M.L. placitare, from L.L. placitum (see PLEA (Cf. plea)). Sense of request, beg first recorded late 14c. Related: Pleaded;… …   Etymology dictionary

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