plead

plead
[[t]pli͟ːd[/t]]
pleads, pleading, pleaded
1) VERB If you plead with someone to do something, you ask them in an intense, emotional way to do it.

[V with n to-inf] The lady pleaded with her daughter to come back home...

[V for n] He was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy...

[V with quote] `Do not say that,' she pleaded...

[V to-inf-passive] I pleaded to be allowed to go. [Also V, V that]

Syn:
2) VERB When someone charged with a crime pleads guilty or not guilty in a court of law, they officially state that they are guilty or not guilty of the crime.

[V adj] Morris had pleaded guilty to robbery.

3) VERB If you plead the case or cause of someone or something, you speak out in their support or defence.

[V n] He appeared before the Committee to plead his case...

[V n] He would plead the cause of Russian unity.

4) VERB If you plead a particular thing as the reason for doing or not doing something, you give it as your excuse.

[V n] Mr Burke, pleading poverty, changed his mind...

[V n] Mr Giles pleads ignorance as his excuse...

[V that] It was no defence for the guards to plead that they were only obeying orders.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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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