[pleading] n (14c) 1: advocacy of a cause in a court of law
2. a: one of the formal usu. written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding b: the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such formal allegations until a single point at issue is produced c: the introduction of one of these allegations and esp. the first one d: the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed
3: the act or an instance of making a plea
4: a sincere entreaty