term:

Plead

plead vb

plead·ed or: pled also: plead [pled]
plead·ing
[Anglo-French plaider to argue in a court of law, from Old French plaid legal action, trial more at plea ]
vi
1 : to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding
;esp
: to answer the pleading or charge of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts [the defendant shall be given a copy of the indictment or information before the defendant is called upon to "Kansas Statutes Annotated"] see also alternative
2 : to make a specific plea [ not guilty]
;also
: to make a plea of guilty [agreed to to the lesser charge]
vt
1 : to allege in or by way of a pleading
: state in a pleading [unless plaintiff s and proves facts showing actual malice, he cannot recover punitive damages "Kumaran v. Brotman, 617 N.E.2d 191 (1993)"] [ a case of fraudulent conveyance]
2 : to offer as an excuse [cannot ignorance of the law]
plead·able adj

plead·er n

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.