plea
Cross references:
1. demurrer 2. apology
plea \'ple-\ n [ME plaid, plai, fr. OF plait, plaid, fr. ML placitu]m, fr.
L decision, decree, fr. neut. of placitus, pp. of place-re to please, be
decided - more at PLEASE 1: a legal suit or action 2: an allegation made
by a party in support of his cause : as 2a: an allegation of fact 2b1: a
defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practi ce
2b2: an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal pract
ice 2c: a plea of guilty to an indictment 3: something alleged as an
excuse : PRETEXT 4: an earnest entreaty : APPEAL