Pleading

[plee-ding] /ˈpli dɪŋ/

noun
1.
the act of a person who pleads.
2.
Law.

[pleed] /plid/
verb (used without object), pleaded or pled, pleading.
1.
to appeal or entreat earnestly:
to plead for time.
2.
to use arguments or persuasions, as with a person, for or against something:
She pleaded with him not to take the job.
3.
to afford an argument or appeal:
His youth pleads for him.
4.
Law.

verb (used with object), pleaded or pled, pleading.
5.
to allege or urge in defense, justification, or excuse:
to plead ignorance.
6.
Law.

/ˈpliːdɪŋ/
noun (law)
1.
the act of presenting a case in court, as by a lawyer on behalf of his client
2.
the art or science of preparing the formal written statements of the parties to a legal action See also pleadings
/pliːd/
verb pleads, pleading, pleaded, plead (plɛd), especially (US & Scot) pled (plɛd)
1.
when intr, often foll by with. to appeal earnestly or humbly (to)
2.
(transitive; may take a clause as object) to give as an excuse; offer in justification or extenuation: to plead ignorance, he pleaded that he was insane
3.
(intransitive) often foll by for. to provide an argument or appeal (for): her beauty pleads for her
4.
(law) to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) in answer to the charge
5.
(law) to advocate (a case) in a court of law
6.
(intransitive) (law)

n.

late 13c., “the carrying on of a suit at court,” verbal noun from plead (v.). Meaning “supplication, intercession” is from early 15c.
v.

mid-13c., “make a plea in court,” from Anglo-French pleder, Old French plaidier, “plead at court” (11c.), from Medieval Latin placitare, from Late Latin placitum (see plea). Sense of “request, beg” first recorded late 14c. Related: Pleaded; pleading; pleadingly.