Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: plait, plaid, from Latin placitum 'decision', from placere; PLEASE2

plea

 noun
     
plea
1 [countable] a request that is urgent or full of emotion
plea for
a plea for help
Caldwell made a plea for donations.
plea to
The parents made an emotional plea to their child's kidnappers.
2 [countable usually singular] a statement by someone in a court of law saying whether they are guilty or not:
a guilty plea
make/enter a plea
Adams entered a plea of 'not guilty'.
3 [singular] an excuse for something:
He refused the appointment on a plea of illness.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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