plea — / plē/ n [Anglo French plei plai legal action, trial, from Old French plait plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum, from Latin, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre to please, be decided] 1 a: an allegation of fact… … Law dictionary
plea — [pliː] noun [countable usually singular] LAW a statement by someone in a court of law, saying whether they are guilty of a crime or not: • Your honor, we enter (= make ) a plea of not guilty . * * … Financial and business terms
plea — [pli:] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: plait, plaid, from Latin placitum decision , from placere; PLEASE2] 1.) a request that is urgent or full of emotion plea for ▪ a plea for help ▪ Caldwell made a plea for donations … Dictionary of contemporary English
Plea — Plea, n. [OE. plee, plai, plait, fr. OF. plait, plaid, plet, LL. placitum judgment, decision, assembly, court, fr. L. placitum that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere to please. See {Please}, and cf. {Placit}, {Plead}.] 1.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
plea — [ pli ] noun count ** 1. ) an urgent or emotional request for something: plea for: The police ignored her pleas for help. make a plea: The boy s parents have made an emotional plea for him to come home. 2. ) LEGAL a statement that someone makes… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
plea — [plē] n. [ME plai < OFr plaid, suit, plea < L placitum, opinion, order, orig. that which is pleasing, orig. neut. pp. of placere, to PLEASE] 1. a statement in defense or justification; excuse 2. an earnest and urgent request; appeal;… … English World dictionary
plea — (n.) early 13c., lawsuit, from Anglo Fr. plai (late 12c.), O.Fr. plait lawsuit, decision, decree (9c.), from M.L. placitum lawsuit, in classical Latin, opinion, decree, lit. that which pleases, thing which is agreed upon, properly neuter pp. of… … Etymology dictionary
plea — [n1] begging request appeal, application, entreaty, imploration, imprecation, intercession, orison, overture, petition, prayer, round robin*, solicitation, suit, supplication; concept 662 Ant. answer, reply plea [n2] excuse, defense action, alibi … New thesaurus
Plea — Plea, Gattung der Wanzenart Notonectides … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
plea — 1 *apology, apologia, excuse, pretext, alibi Analogous words: explanation, justification, rationalization (see corresponding verbs at EXPLAIN): defense, vindication (see corresponding verbs at MAINTAIN) 2 *prayer, suit, petition, appeal Analogous … New Dictionary of Synonyms
