Definition of pleading
1
: advocacy of a cause in a court of law
2a
: 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for pleading
The first known use of pleading was in the 14th century
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