PleaWordNet Explorer
Explore synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, and semantic relationships for “plea” powered by Princeton WordNet.
(law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards
(law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
the collection of rules imposed by authority
the principal pleading by the defendant in response to plaintiff's complaint; in criminal law it consists of the defendant's plea of `guilty' or `not guilty' (or nolo contendere); in civil law it must contain denials of all allegations in the plaintiff's complaint that the defendant hopes to controvert and it can contain affirmative defenses or counterclaims
a plaintiff's reply to a defendant's plea
a plea that delays the action without settling the cause of action; it can challenge the jurisdiction or claim disability of the defendant etc. (such defenses are usually raised in the defendant's answer)
(criminal law) a plea in which the defendant claims innocence due to mental incompetence at the time
a humble request for help from someone in authority