plead (plēd) v.
plead·ed or pled (plěd), plead·ing, pleads
v.
intr.
To appeal earnestly; beg: plead for more time.
To offer reasons for or against something; argue earnestly: plead against a bill.
To provide an argument or appeal: Your youth pleads for you in this instance.
Law
To put forward a plea of a specific nature in court: plead guilty.
To make or answer an allegation in a legal proceeding.
To address a court as a lawyer or advocate.
v.
tr.
To assert as defense, vindication, or excuse; claim as a plea: plead illness.
Law
To present as an answer to a charge, indictment, or declaration made against one.
To argue or present (a case) in a court or similar tribunal.
[Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaidier, from Medieval Latin placitāre, to appeal to the law, from Late Latin placitum, decree, opinion; see plea.] plead'a·ble adj., plead'er n., plead'ing·ly adv.
Usage Note: In strict legal usage, one is said to plead guilty or plead not guilty but not to plead innocent. In nonlegal contexts, however, plead innocent is well established.
[plee-der] 
dər