Plea
King James Dictionary [1]
1. In law, that which is alleged by a party in support of his demand but in a more limited and technical sense, the answer of the defendant 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. Pleas are dilatory, or pleas to the action. Dilatory pleas, are to the jurisdiction of the court, to the disability of the plaintiff, or in abatement. Pleas to the action are an answer to the merits of the complaint, which confesses or denies it. Pleas that deny the plaintiff's complaint or demand, are the general issue, which denies the whole declaration or special pleas in bar, which state something which precludes the plaintiff's right of recovery. 2. A cause in court a lawsuit, or a criminal process as the pleas of the crown the court of common pleas.
The supreme judicial court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal and mixed.
3. That which is alleged in defense or justification an excuse an apology as the tyrant's plea.
When such occasions are,
No plea must serve 'tis cruelty to spare.
4. Urgent prayer or entreaty.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common.
(2): ( n.) That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology.
(3): ( n.) 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.
(4): ( n.) An urgent prayer or entreaty.
