What does "plea" mean?

Plea: (Law) A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common. The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed. Laws of Massachusetts.

Additional senses

  1. 2.That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology. "Necessity, the tyrant's plea." Milton. No plea must serve; 't is cruelty to spare. Denham.
  2. 3.An urgent prayer or entreaty. Pleas of the crown (Eng. Law), criminal actions.

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