PLEAD

verb (~ed or pled; also ~; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Anglo-French plaider, pleder, from plai plea Date: 13th century intransitive verb to argue a case or cause in a court of law, 2. to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, to conduct ~ings, to make a plea of a specified nature , 4. to argue for or against a claim, to entreat or appeal earnestly, transitive verb to maintain (as a case or cause) in a court of law or other tribunal, to allege in or by way of a legal plea, to offer as a plea usually in defense, apology, or excuse, ~able adjective ~er noun ~ingly adverb