Definition of Plea

1. Noun. A humble request for help from someone in authority.

Exact synonyms: Supplication
Generic synonyms: Appeal, Entreaty, Prayer
Derivative terms: Supplicate

2. Noun. (law) a defendant's answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer).
Generic synonyms: Answer
Specialized synonyms: Counterplea, Dilatory Plea, Insanity Plea, Plea Of Insanity
Category relationships: Jurisprudence, Law

3. Noun. An answer indicating why a suit should be dismissed.
Generic synonyms: Due Process, Due Process Of Law
Group relationships: Trial
Category relationships: Jurisprudence, Law

Definition of Plea

1. n. That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him.

Definition of Plea

1. Noun. An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty. ¹

2. Noun. An excuse; an apology. ¹

3. Noun. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification. ¹

4. Noun. (context: legal) That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause. ¹

5. Noun. (context: legal) An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer. ¹

6. Noun. (context: legal) The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand. ¹

7. Noun. (context: legal) A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Plea

1. an entreaty [n -S] - See also: entreaty

Medical Definition of Plea

1. 1. That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him. 2. A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See Common. "The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed." (Laws of Massachusetts) 3. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology. "Necessity, the tyrant's plea." "No plea must serve; 't is cruelty to spare." (Denham) 4. An urgent prayer or entreaty. Pleas of the crown, criminal actions. Origin: OE. Plee, plai, plait, fr. OF. Plait, plaid, plet, LL. Placitum judgment, decision, assembly, court, fr. L. Placitum that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere to please. See Please, and cf. Placit, Plead. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Plea

playworker
playworkers
playwright
playwrighting
playwrightings
playwrights
playwriter
playwriters
playwriting
playwritings
plaza
plazalike
plazas
plaçage
ple-
plea (current term)
plea-bargain
plea bargain
plea bargaining
plea bargains
plea in abatement
plea of insanity
plea of the crown
pleace
pleach
pleached
pleaches
pleaching
plead
plead the fifth

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