(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
If you ~ with someone to do something, you ask them in an intense, emotional way to do it.
The lady ~ed with her daughter to come back home...
He was kneeling on the floor ~ing for mercy...
‘Do not say that,’ she ~ed...
I ~ed to be allowed to go.
= beg
VERB: V with n to-inf, V for n, V with quote, V to-inf-passive, also V, V that
2.
When someone charged with a crime ~s guilty or not guilty in a court of law, they officially state that they are guilty or not guilty of the crime.
Morris had ~ed guilty to robbery.
VERB: V adj
3.
If you ~ the case or cause of someone or something, you speak out in their support or defence.
He appeared before the Committee to ~ his case...
VERB: V n
4.
If you ~ a particular thing as the reason for doing or not doing something, you give it as your excuse.
Mr Giles ~s ignorance as his excuse...
It was no defence to ~ that they were only obeying orders.
VERB: V n, V that