Main Entry:

pleading

Function:

noun

Date:

14th century

1: advocacy of a cause in a court of law2 a: one of the formal usually written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding b: the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such formal allegations until a single point at issue is produced c: the introduction of one of these allegations and especially the first one d: the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed3: the act or an instance of making a plea4: a sincere entreaty