plea

plea

noun \ˈplē\

Definition of PLEA

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>

Examples of PLEA

1. We are making a plea to all companies to stop polluting the environment.
2. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.

Origin of PLEA

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PLEA

Synonyms: adjuration, appeal, conjuration, cry, desire, entreaty, petition, pleading, prayer, solicitation, suit, suppliance, supplication

Related Words: application, requisition; call, claim, demand, insistence

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See Synonym Discussion at apology

Rhymes with PLEA

b, be, bee, c, cay, cee, Cree, d, dee, Dee, dree, e, fee, flea, flee, free, g, gee, ghee, glee, gree, he, key, Key, knee, lea, lee, me, mi, p, pea, pee, pree, quay, re, Rhee, scree, sea, see, she, si, ski, spree, sri, t, tea, tee, the, thee, three, ti, tree, twee, Twi, v, vee, we, wee, whee, ye, z, zee