[plea] n [ME plaid, plai, fr. OF plait, plaid, fr. ML placitum, fr. L, decision, decree, fr. neut. of placitus, pp. of placere to please, be decided--more at please] (13c) 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 ~ of a headache"
4: an earnest entreaty: appeal "their ~ for understanding must be answered" syn see apology