plead
PLEED
/pliːd/
Make an earnest emotional appeal. In law, to declare oneself to be guilty or not guilty of a charge.
In a legal context, it's a formal declaration of one's position regarding charges. Outside of law, it's a strong request.
The story behind the word. The word 'plead' comes from the Old French 'plaidier,' meaning 'to plead, to argue a case.' This ultimately derives from the Latin 'placitare,' meaning 'to please, to agree.' In a legal context, it evolved to mean presenting one's case or position, especially in response to a charge, by formally declaring guilt or innocence.
Word relationships
- beg: To beg is a more informal and often desperate form of appeal, whereas 'plead' can be formal or earnest.
- allege: To allege is to claim something is true, often without proof, while to plead is to formally state one's guilt or innocence.
Commonly confused with
- argue: To 'plead' in court is to formally state one's position (guilty/not guilty). To 'argue' is to present reasons or evidence in support of or against a point of view.
Word family
- pleading (noun): the action of making an earnest appeal; a formal statement of a party's case.
- pleaded (verb): past tense and past participle of plead (also 'pled' in American English).
Collocations
- plead guilty
- plead not guilty
- plead the fifth
- plead for mercy
Idioms & expressions
- plead ignorance
Example sentences
- "The defendant chose to plead not guilty to all charges, setting the stage for a full trial." Referring to a defendant's formal declaration.
- "She pleaded with her parents to let her go to the concert, promising to be home early." Using the word in a non-legal, earnest appeal.
Memory hook
You 'PLEAD' your case, hoping to 'PLEASE' the judge or jury. PLEASE the judge
When not to use
Do not use 'plead' when a simple request or statement is sufficient; it implies urgency or a formal declaration.
Fun facts
- In the U.S., 'pleading the Fifth' refers to invoking the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions.
- A 'plea bargain' is an agreement between the prosecution and defense where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Related words
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