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Added 9 October 2026

plea

/pliː/ noun

Latin root: placitum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about plea at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty.
a plea for mercy
An excuse; an apology.
That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification.

verb

To plead; to argue. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

Origin

From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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