(Britain, excepting Scotland), still used by some in the US, particularly in legal usage. simple past tense and past participle of plead

(transitive, intransitive, copulative) To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case. / (intransitive) To beg, beseech, or implore. / (transitive) To offer by way of excuse.

The act of making a plea. / (law) A document filed in a lawsuit, particularly a document initiating litigation or responding to the initiation of litigation.

That pleads.

present participle of plead

plural of pleading

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of plead

simple past tense and past participle of plead the belly

(law, US) To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.

(US law) The filing under state law of a claim naturally arising under federal law.