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Synonyms
plea (plē)

[Middle English plai, lawsuit, from Old French plai, plaid, from Late Latin placitum, decree, from Latin from neuter past participle of placēre, to please.]

noun 

  1. An earnest request; an appeal: spoke out in a plea for greater tolerance.
  2. An excuse; a pretext: “necessity,/The Tyrant's plea” (John Milton)
  3. Law
    1. An allegation offered in pleading a case.
    2. A defendant's answer to the declaration made by the plaintiff in a civil action.
    3. The answer of the accused to a criminal charge or indictment: entered a plea of not guilty.
    4. A special answer depending on or demonstrating one or more reasons why a suit should be delayed, dismissed, or barred in equity law.
    5. An action or suit.