King James Bible Dictionary

PLEAD, verb intransitive [See Plea.] In a general sense, to argue in support of a claim, or in defense against the claim of another.

1. In law, to present an answer to the declaration of a plaintiff; to deny the plaintiff's declaration and demand, or to allege facts which show that he ought not to recover in the suit. The plaintiff declares or alleges; the defendant pleads to his declaration. The king or the state prosecutes an offender, and the offender pleads not guilty, or confesses the charge.

2. To urge reasons for or against; to attempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; to plead in his favor; to plead with a judge or with a father.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor! Job 16:21.

3. To supplicate with earnestness.

4. To urge; to press by operating on the passions.

Since you can love, and yet your error see,

The same resistless power may plead for me.

PLEAD, verb transitive To discuss, defend and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons offered to the tribunal or person who has the power of determining; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury. In this sense, argue is more generally used by lawyers.

1. To allege or adduce in proof, support or vindication. The law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of embassadors.

2. To offer in excuse.

I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of faults.

3. To allege and offer in a legal plea or defense, or for repelling a demand in law; as, to plead usury; to plead a statute of limitations.

4. In Scripture, to plead the cause of the righteous, as God, is to avenge or vindicate them against enemies, or to redress their grievances. Isaiah 51:22.

PLE'ADABLE, adjective That may be pleaded; that may be alleged in proof, defense or vindication; as a right or privilege pleadable at law.

PLE'ADED, participle passive Offered or urged in defense; alleged in proof or support.

PLE'ADER, noun One who argues in a court of justice.

1. One that forms pleas or pleadings; as a special pleader

2. One that offers reasons for or against; one that attempts to maintain by arguments.

So fair a pleader any cause may gain.

General references
Deuteronomy 17:8

Of the guilty
Joshua 7:19-21

Jesus declined to plead
Matthew 26:62; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 18:33-34

Prisoners required to plead
Acts 7:1
Defense

PLE'ADING, participle present tense Offering in defense; supporting by arguments or reasons; supplicating.

PLE'ADING, noun The art of supporting by arguments, or of reasoning to persuade.

PLE'ADINGS, noun In law, the mutual altercations between the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, comprehending the declaration, count or narration of the plaintiff, the plea of the defendant in reply, the replication of the plaintiff to the defendant's plea, the defendant's rejoinder, the plaintiff's sur-rejoinder, the defendant's rebutter, the plaintiff's sur-rebutter, etc. till the question is brought to issue, that is, to rest on a single point.