The definition of a plea is an urgent or desperate request, or an official statement made by a defendant in a court as to whether he is guilty or innocent.
(noun)See plea in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
Origin: ME plai < OFr plaid, suit, plea < L placitum, opinion, order, orig. that which is pleasing, orig. neut. pp. of placere, to please
See plea in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Origin:
Origin: Middle English plai, lawsuit
Origin: , from Old French plai, plaid
Origin: , from Late Latin placitum, decree
Origin: , from Latin
Origin: , from neuter past participle of placēre, to please; see plāk-1 in Indo-European roots
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