plead /pliːd/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: plaidier , from plaid ; ⇨ ↑ plea ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way SYN beg :
‘Don’t go!’ Robert pleaded.
plead for
Civil rights groups pleaded for government help.
plead with somebody (to do something)
Moira pleaded with him to stay.
2 . ( past tense and past participle pleaded also pled /pled/ especially American English ) [intransitive, transitive not in passive] law to state in a court of law whether or not you are guilty of a crime
plead guilty/not guilty/innocent
Henderson pled guilty to burglary.
3 . ( past tense and past participle pleaded also pled American English ) plead ignorance/illness/insanity etc formal to give a particular excuse for your actions:
She stayed home from work, pleading illness.
4 . [transitive] written to give reasons why you think something is true or why something should be done
plead that
Managers pleaded that there was not enough time to make the changes.
Residents successfully pleaded their case at a council meeting.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to ask for something
▪ ask for to tell someone you want them to give you something:
I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
▪ order to ask for food or drink in a restaurant:
We ordered some more coffee.
|
Have you ordered yet?
▪ demand to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for:
They’re demanding immediate payment.
|
If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
▪ request formal to ask for something:
The pilot requested permission to land.
|
I enclose the information you requested.
▪ beg/plead to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it:
He begged me for some money.
|
I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
▪ nag/pester to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way:
She keeps nagging me for a new phone.
|
People were pestering him for his autograph.