Definition of plea
1
: a legal suit or action
2
: an allegation made by a party in support of a cause: such as
a
: an allegation of fact — compare demurrer entry 1
b(1)
: a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice
(2)
: an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice
c
: a plea of guilty to an indictment
3
: something offered by way of excuse or justification
left early with the plea of a headache
4
: an earnest entreaty : appeal
their plea for understanding must be answered
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for plea
The first known use of plea was in the 13th century
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