Plead Meaning and Definition
Plead
Pronunciation
/ˈpliad/
Part of Speech
Verb or Noun
Definition
To plead is to make a formal request or appeal, often in a legal or emotional context. As a noun, a plead is a formal argument or petition.
Examples
- The lawyer will plead the case to the judge.
- The community came together to plead for disaster relief.
Synonyms
- Petition
- Appeal
- Request
Antonyms
- Abandon
- Deny
Etymology
The word “plead” comes from the Old English word “pleadian”, related to the Proto-Germanic word “*plēdiz”, which is also the source of the modern English word “plate”.
Usage Notes
Plead can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but the tone and language used should be adjusted accordingly. In formal settings, it’s often used in legal or official contexts, while in informal settings, it can be used in everyday conversation.
Cultural References
Plead is often featured in popular culture, such as in films, TV shows, and literature. It’s commonly used in storylines involving legal cases, protests, or emotional appeals.
Plead is often used in idiomatic expressions such as “to plead guilty” or “to plead not guilty”, which are commonly used in legal contexts.
Related Words or Phrases
Some related words or phrases to “plead” include “petition”, “appeal”, “request”, and “allege”.
Collocations
Plead often collocates with words like “guilty”, “not guilty”, “innocent”, “guilt”, “shame”, and “remorse”.
Frequency of Use
Plead is a relatively common word in modern usage, particularly in formal and official contexts.
Common Misspellings
Some common misspellings of “plead” include “pleed”, “pleedz”, and “pleedes”.