plead
UK: pliːd | US: pliːd
vi. to make an emotional or earnest appeal
vt. to argue (a case) in a court of law
vi. to declare oneself guilty or not guilty in a legal plea
The word "plead" originates from the Old French "plaidier" (to plead in court), derived from "plaid" (lawsuit, agreement), which traces back to the Latin "placitum" (decree, opinion). The core idea revolves around formal appeals or disputes, reflecting its legal roots. Over time, the verb-forming suffix "-d" (from Old French "-ier") solidified its action-oriented meaning in English.
The defendant chose to plead not guilty.
She pleaded with him to reconsider his decision.
Lawyers must plead cases convincingly in court.
He pleaded ignorance when questioned about the missing files.
Activists pleaded for stricter environmental regulations.