plead
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of PLEAD
1
[no object]
:
to ask for something in a serious and emotional way
— often + for
— often + with
-
He begged and pleaded, but she would not change her mind.
-
She pleaded [=begged] for forgiveness and got her job back.
-
pleading for help/mercy
-
He pleaded with the judge not to send him to jail.
2
[+ object]
:
to try to prove (a case) in a court of law
-
She couldn't afford a lawyer to plead her case.
3
[no object]
:
to say in court that you are either guilty or not guilty of a crime
:
to make a plea
-
“How do you plead?” asked the judge.
-
“We plead guilty, Your Honor.”
-
He pled not guilty by reason of insanity. [=he said in court that he was not responsible for the crime because he was insane]
-
He agreed to plead to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
4
[+ object]
:
to give (something) as a reason or excuse for something
-
He pleaded that he didn't have enough money to pay his bill.
-
On that particular issue, I will have to plead ignorance. [=to say that I do not know anything about it]
5
:
to argue in support of (a cause)
[+ object]
-
They went to plead their cause to the governor.
[no object]
-
We will plead on your behalf.
