plea
(Brit. informal)
[noun]
Synonyms:
- appeal, entreaty, intercession, petition, prayer, request, suit, supplication
- excuse, defence, explanation, justification

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Related Idioms: solemn entreaty (or plea)
Related Words: extenuation, mitigation, palliation, apology, out, vindication, overture, call, cry

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

plea /pliː/ noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: plait, plaid, from Latin placitum 'decision', from placere; ⇒ please²]

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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

plea
noun
I. request
ADJ. desperate, dramatic, strong, urgent | heartfelt, impassioned, passionate | repeated | personal
VERB + PLEA make | ignore
PREP. despite a/the ~, in spite of a/the ~ Despite pleas from his mother, the gunman refused to give himself up.
~ by/from Hospital visiting hours were extended in response to pleas from patients.
~ for The director of the charity made an impassioned plea for help.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

plea
II. statement in court
ADJ. guilty | not guilty
VERB + PLEA enter | hear | change | accept, sustain The prosecution accepted a plea of manslaughter.
support | reject
PLEA + NOUN bargain, bargaining
PREP. ~ for A senior judge heard a plea for damages on behalf of the accident victims.
~ of Her solicitor entered a plea of guilty on her behalf.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲