# plead

Pronunciation: say "PLEED" US /plid/, UK /pliːd/

## Verb

1. To beg or implore someone earnestly, often with strong emotion.
   - Simple: To ask for something in a strong, emotional way.
   - _The prisoners pleaded for mercy before the tribunal._
   - _Crowds gathered to plead with the governor for clemency._
2. To present an argument or formal plea, especially before a court in a legal case.
   - Simple: To argue a case in court, or to state whether you are guilty.
   - _The defense attorney pleaded the case skillfully over three days._
   - _He decided to plead guilty to the lesser charge._
3. To offer something as an excuse or justification for one's conduct.
   - Simple: To give something as a reason or excuse for what you did.
   - _The witness pleaded a faulty memory when questioned about the dates._
   - _Defendants often plead financial hardship to reduce their penalties._
4. To discuss or debate a matter by presenting arguments.
   - Simple: To talk through a matter by giving reasons on each side.
   - _Scholars pleaded the merits of the proposal late into the night._
   - _Every spring the neighbors plead the question of the boundary fence before the town council._

## Origin

It comes from Middle English pleden, from Old French plaider ("to plead, offer a plea"), from Medieval Latin placitum (a decree, plea, or opinion; literally "that which is pleasing"), from placere ("to please"). It is related to Spanish pleitear, "to litigate."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/plead (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).