Main Entry: pleading

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

1 : advocacy of a cause in a court of law
2 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 framed
3 : the act or an instance of making a plea
4 : a sincere entreaty