A thing to play with; a toy; anything that serves to amuse.

Time for play or diversion.

A maker or adapter of plays.

A writer of plays; a dramatist; a playwright.

A public square in a city or town.

That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him.

A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common.

That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology.

An urgent prayer or entreaty.

of Pleach

of Pleach

To unite by interweaving, as branches of trees; to plash; to interlock.

of Plead

of Plead

of Plead

of Plead

To argue in support of a claim, or in defense against the claim of another; to urge reasons for or against a thing; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; to speak by way of persuasion; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead with a judge or with a father.

To present an answer, by allegation of fact, to the declaration of a plaintiff; to deny the plaintiff's declaration and demand, or to allege facts which show that ought not to recover in the suit; in a less strict sense, to make an allegation of fact in a cause; to carry on the allegations of the respective parties in a cause; to carry on a suit or plea.

To contend; to struggle.

To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury.

To allege or cite in a legal plea or defense, or for repelling a demand in law; to answer to an indictment; as, to plead usury; to plead statute of limitations; to plead not guilty.

To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vendication; to offer in excuse; as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors.

Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law.

One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate.

One who draws up or forms pleas; the draughtsman of pleas or pleadings in the widest sense; as, a special pleader.

The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

In a pleading manner.

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point.

Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness.

A secluded part of a garden.