Etymology From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.
Even if only one person answers my plea for someone to correspond with it will be a blessing.1981 December 1, George D. Johnson, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 20, page 18:
a plea for mercy
1 more example
make a plea
2
An excuse; an apology.
Necessity, the tyrant’s plea.1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
No Plea must serve; ’tis cruelty to spare.1668, Sir John Denham, Poems and Translations with The Sophy, “The Sophy”, Actus Primus, Scena Segunda, page 6:
3
That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification.
4
Law That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause.
5
Law An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer.
6
Law The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand.
7
Law A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas.
they or any three of them shall be a Court and have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed.1782, "An Act establishing a Supreme Judicial Court within the Commonwealth", quoted in The Constitutional History of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Frank Washburn Grinnell, 1917, page 434
Etymology From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.
With my riches, my unhappiness was increased tenfold; and here, with another great acquisition of property, for which I had pleaed, and which I had gained in a dream, my miseries and difficulties were increasing.1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner: