pleading
plead.ing n 1: advocacy of a cause in a court of law 2a: one of the formal usu. written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding 2b: the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such forma l allegations until a single point at issue is produced 2c: the introduction of one of these allegations esp. the first one 2d: the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed 3: ADVOCACY, INTERCESSION