Adjacent Words

Plea definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PLEA, n. [L. lis, litis.]
1. In law, that which is alleged by a party in support of his demand; but in a more limited and technical sense, the answer of the defendant to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. Pleas are dilatory, or pleas to the action. Dilatory pleas, are to the jurisdiction of the court, to the disability of the plaintiff, or in abatement. Pleas to the action are an answer to the merits of the complaint, which confesses or denies it. Pleas that deny the plaintiff's complaint or demand, are the general issue, which denies the whole declaration; or special pleas in bar, which state something which precludes the plaintiff's right of recovery.
2. A cause in court; a lawsuit, or a criminal process; as the pleas of the crown; the court of common pleas.
The supreme judicial court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal and mixed.
3. That which is alleged in defense or justification; an excuse; an apology; as the tyrant's plea.
When such occasions are,
No plea must serve; 'tis cruelty to spare.
4. Urgent prayer or entreaty.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a humble request for help from someone in authority [syn: supplication, plea]
2: (law) a defendant's answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer)
3: an answer indicating why a suit should be dismissed

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English ple, plede, from Anglo-French plai, pleit from Medieval Latin placitum, from Latin, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of plac?re to please, be decided — more at please Date: 13th century 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> Synonyms: see apology

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 an earnest appeal or entreaty. 2 Law a formal statement by or on behalf of a defendant. 3 an argument or excuse. Phrases and idioms: plea bargaining US an arrangement between prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in the expectations of leniency. Etymology: ME & AF ple, plai, OF plait, plaid agreement, discussion f. L placitum a decree, neut. past part. of placere to please

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Plea Plea, n. [OE. plee, plai, plait, fr. OF. plait, plaid, plet, LL. placitum judgment, decision, assembly, court, fr. L. placitum that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere to please. See Please, and cf. Placit, Plead.] 1. (Law) That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him. 2. (Law) A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common. The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed. --Laws of Massachusetts. 3. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology. ``Necessity, the tyrant's plea.'' --Milton. No plea must serve; 't is cruelty to spare. --Denham. 4. An urgent prayer or entreaty. Pleas of the crown (Eng. Law), criminal actions.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(pleas) 1. A plea is an appeal or request for something, made in an intense or emotional way. (JOURNALISM) Mr Nicholas made his emotional plea for help in solving the killing. = appeal N-COUNT: oft N for n, N to-inf 2. In a court of law, a person's plea is the answer that they give when they have been charged with a crime, saying whether or not they are guilty of that crime. The judge questioned him about his guilty plea... We will enter a plea of not guilty... N-COUNT: usu adj N, N of adj 3. A plea is a reason which is given, to a court of law or to other people, as an excuse for doing something or for not doing something. Phillips murdered his wife, but got off on a plea of insanity... N-COUNT: usu N of n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. (Law.) Allegation. 2. Suit, action, cause in court. 3. Defence, excuse, apology, justification, vindication, argument, pleading.

Moby Thesaurus

adjuration, alibi, answer, apology, appeal, application, argument, argumentum, beseechment, bid, call, case, clamor, cons, consideration, counterstatement, cry, defence, defense, demurrer, denial, elenchus, entreaty, exception, excuse, explanation, extenuation, ignoratio elenchi, imploration, imploring, imprecation, invocation, invocatory plea, justification, mitigation, objection, obsecration, obtestation, out, overture, palliation, petition, plaidoyer, pleading, pleadings, prayer, pretext, pros, pros and cons, reason, rebuttal, refutation, reply, request, response, right, riposte, rogation, solicitation, special demurrer, special pleading, statement of defense, suit, supplication, talking point, vindication