n.
Pronunciation: ' pl ē
Function: 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 ē 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