Plead | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Plēad, v. i.

verbintransitive

(plēd), v. i. [imp. & p. p. PLEADED (PLĒAD, or PLĒD, is sometimes improperly used for the imp. & p. p.); p. pr. & vb. n. PLEADING.] [Fr. plaider, O. Fr. plaidier, plaidoier, Pr. plaideiar, Sp. pleitear, Pg. preitejar, It. piatire, piateggiare, L. Lat. placitare, from placitum. See PLEA.]

Sense 1. 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; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead in his favor; to plead with a judge or with a father.

Since you can love, and yet your error see, The same resistless power may plead for me. Dryden.

Sense 2. (Law.) 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 he 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.

Blackstone. Burrill. Stephen.

Plēad, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. 1. To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vindication; to offer in excuse; as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors.

I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of faults. Dryden.

Sense 2. To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons offered to a tribunal or person who has the power of determining; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury.

☞ In this sense, argue is more generally used by lawyers.

Sense 3. To allege and offer in a legal plea or defense, or for repelling a demand in law; as, to plead usury; to plead a statute of limitations. Kent.

Plēd, imp. & p. p.

past tensepast participle

imp. & p. p. of plead;— sometimes erroneously used instead of pleaded. See PLEAD.