Etymology

From < , < , neut. of , pp. of .

Noun

1. An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty.

   a plea for mercy

2. An excuse; an apology.

   Necessity, the tyrant’s plea. --John Milton.

   No plea must serve; ‘t is cruelty to spare. -- Sir John Denham.

3. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification.
4. That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause.
5. An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer.
6. The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand.
7. A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common.

   The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed. --Laws of Massachusetts.

Usage notes

In 19th century U.K. law, that which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant’s plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant’s formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him/her.

Related terms

• pleas of the crown
• plead
• pleasant
• please
• pleasurable
• pleasure