plead
Verb
Verb Forms: pleaded, pled, pleading, pleads
- To make an earnest appeal or supplication; to beg.
- appeal or request earnestly
- "I pleaded with him to stop"
- offer as an excuse or plea
- "She was pleading insanity"
- enter a plea, as in courts of law
- "She pleaded not guilty"
- make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
- To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.
- To beg, beseech, or implore, especially emotionally.
- To offer by way of excuse.
- To discuss by arguments.
Examples
- He pleaded with me not to leave the house.
- He was pleading for mercy.
- It is no defence to plead that you were only obeying orders.
- Not wishing to attend the banquet, I pleaded illness.
- She would often plead with her opponents not to challenge her perfectly valid Scrabble words.
- The defendant has decided to plead not guilty.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaider (“to plead, offer a plea”), from plait, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc.", in Classical Latin, "an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placeō (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleitear (“to litigate, take to court”).
Scrabble Score: 8
plead: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordplead: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
plead: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 10
plead: valid Words With Friends Word