plead

Pronunciation: /pliːd/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb appeal or request earnestly
  2. verb offer as an excuse or plea
  3. verb enter a plea, as in courts of law

Etymology

From Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaider (“to plead, offer a plea”), from plait, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc.", in Classical Latin, "an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placeō (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleitear (“to litigate, take to court”).

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
appeal
Narrower (hyponyms)
bid, beg

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