Word: plead (verb)

Associations

"Plead" means to ask for something in an emotional or serious way, often because you need help or mercy.

• "She pleaded with her parents to let her go to the party." Here, she is asking earnestly.
• "The lawyer pleaded for a lighter sentence." This means the lawyer asked the judge seriously.
• "He pleaded guilty in court." In this case, "pleaded" means to formally say you are guilty. A similar word is "beg," but "plead" can sound more formal or legal, while "beg" is more informal and desperate.

Substitution

Instead of "plead," you can use:

• "beg" – more emotional and informal.
• "request" – more polite and formal, less emotional.
• "appeal" – often used in legal or formal situations. Changing the word can make the sentence sound more or less formal or emotional.

Deconstruction

"Plead" comes from Old French "plaider," which means to speak or argue in court. It has no prefix or suffix here, just the base verb "plead." It originally related to making a legal argument, which is why we still use it in court.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you might plead with someone? What would you ask for?
• How does pleading differ when you do it in a serious situation versus a casual one?
• Have you heard "plead" used in movies or books? What was the situation?