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| plea [ plee ] (plural pleas) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. urgent request: an urgent, often emotional, request
  a plea for understanding
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2. law defendant's answer to charge: the defendant's answer to a charge in a court of law, especially one stating that he or she is guilty or not guilty
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3. law statement of defendant's or claimant's case: a statement or argument made in a court of law in support of a defendant's or claimant's case
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4. excuse: an excuse or pretext
He managed to extricate himself on the plea of extreme pressure of work.
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| [13th century. < Anglo-Norman plai "lawsuit, agreement," variant of Old French plaid< Latin placitum "decree" < past participle of placere "please"] |
