Plēa, n.

n. [O. Eng. plead, pleid, Norm. Fr. plait, plaid, pleit, plet, O. Fr. plait, plaid, plet, ploit, plaiz, ples, Pr. plait, plag, Sp. pleito, Pg. pleito, preito, It. piato, LL. Lat. plaitum, placitum, from Lat. placitum, that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere, to please.]

1Sense 1. (Law.) 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. Bouvier.

2Sense 2. A cause in court; a lawsuit, or a criminal process; as, the Court of Common Pleas.

The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed. Laws of Mass.

3Sense 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. Denham.

4Sense 4. Urgent prayer or entreaty.

Pleas of the crown (Eng. Law.), criminal actions.