Link Centre Dictionary

plea

UK/pliː/ US/ˈpli/ fairly common

noun

1.
2.

(law) a defendant''s answer by a factual matter (as distinguished from a demurrer)

3.

an answer indicating why a suit should be dismissed

Origin

From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.

Phrases

  • Alford plea
  • cop a plea
  • declinatory plea
  • Kennedy plea
  • plea bargain
  • plea bargaining
  • plea deal
  • plea in abatement

Related words

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.