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plead
[ pleed ]
verb (used without object)
- to appeal or entreat earnestly:
to plead for time.
Synonyms: supplicate, beg
- to use arguments or persuasions, as with a person, for or against something:
She pleaded with him not to take the job.
Synonyms: reason
- to afford an argument or appeal:
His youth pleads for him.
- Law.
- to make any allegation or plea in an action at law.
- to put forward an answer on the part of a defendant to a legal declaration or charge.
- to address a court as an advocate.
- Obsolete. to prosecute a suit or action at law.
verb (used with object)
- to allege or urge in defense, justification, or excuse:
to plead ignorance.
Synonyms: claim
- Law.
- to maintain (a cause) by argument before a court.
- to allege or set forth (something) formally in an action at law.
- to allege or cite in legal defense:
to plead a statute of limitations.
plead
/ pliːd /
verb
- whenintr, often foll by with to appeal earnestly or humbly (to)
- tr; may take a clause as object to give as an excuse; offer in justification or extenuation
to plead ignorance
he pleaded that he was insane
- introften foll byfor to provide an argument or appeal (for)
her beauty pleads for her
- law to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) in answer to the charge
- law to advocate (a case) in a court of law
- intr law
- to file pleadings
- to address a court as an advocate
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Derived Forms
- ˈpleader, noun
- ˈpleadable, adjective
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Other Words From
- re·plead verb repleaded repleading
- un·pleaded adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of plead1
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Example Sentences
The camera passes to each hostage in turn to allow them to plead with the Lebanese government to let them live.
He did not plead guilty, and has regularly filed petitions in an effort to prove his innocence.
The news that Grimm was set to plead guilty sent shockwaves through the leadership of the Republican Party on Staten Island.
In all these cases, the students and even faculty members plead ignorance.
On Friday, many of the minors came back to plead to the residents that this was their only home.
Bernard stood there face to face with Mrs. Vivian, whose eyes seemed to plead with him more than ever.
Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?
He will die of a broken heart, and will plead against me at the judgment-seat.
Put me in remembrance, and let us plead together: tell if thou hast any thing to justify thyself.
And the Duke of Wellington refused to plead for the Marshal, for he said "it was absolutely necessary to make an example."
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