释义 |
plea I. \ˈplē\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English plaid, plait, plai, plee, from Old French plaid, plait, plet agreement, decision, decree, lawsuit, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin placitum court day, judicial proceeding, lawsuit, from Latin, something agreeable, opinion, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre to please, resolve, decide, decree — more at please 1. a. obsolete : an action or cause in court : lawsuit : the presentation of a cause to the court — see common pleas b. Scotland : contention, quarreling 2. : an allegation made by a party in support of one's cause: as a. : an allegation of fact — distinguished from demurrer b. (1) : a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration and demand in common-law practice (2) : an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment against him in criminal practice c. : special plea d. : a plea of guilty to an indictment 3. : something alleged or used to excuse or to justify : pretext < left the party early with the plea of a headache > 4. obsolete : something demanded : claim < none can drive him from the envious plea of forfeiture — Shakespeare > 5. : an earnest entreaty : appeal, petition < the powerful and compelling plea for state's rights — Carol L. Thompson > < resisted pleas of many of his advisers — Herbert Feis > Synonyms: see apology, prayer II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English playen, pleyen, from plaid, plait, plai, plee, n. chiefly Scotland : contend, quarrel |