plead

1. (ambitransitive, copulative) To present (an argument or a plea), especially in a legal case.Examples: "The defendant has decided to plead not guilty."; "O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!"; "At the High Court in Aberdeen in September, NR pleaded guilty to a series of failings, including failing to tell the driver that it was unsafe to drive the train at the 75mph line speed."ambitransitivecopulative

2. (intransitive) To beg, beseech, or implore, especially emotionally.Examples: "He pleaded with me not to leave the house."; "He was pleading for mercy."Synonyms: appeal, ask, beg, request, entreatintransitive

3. (transitive) To offer by way of excuse.Examples: "Not wishing to attend the banquet, I pleaded illness."; "It is no defence to plead that you were only obeying orders."; "From there Prince Rupert, the Royalist general and nephew of Charles I, demanded over £2,000 from the mayor of Leicester to pay the king's forces who were camped around Queniborough. The mayor, however, pleaded poverty and sent only £500."Synonyms: allege, claim, cry, maintaintransitive

4. (transitive) To discuss by arguments.transitive