plead

verb

1. appeal or request earnestly

- I pleaded with him to stop

Definition categories: communication, appeal, invoke

2. offer as an excuse or plea

- She was pleading insanity

Definition categories: communication, apologise, apologize, excuse, rationalise, rationalize

3. enter a plea, as in courts of law

- She pleaded not guilty

Definition categories: communication, declare

4. make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts

Definition categories: communication, allege, aver, say