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ntiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal ans…

To unite by interweaving, as branches of trees; to plash; to interlock. "The pleached bower." Shak.

ttempt to persuade one by argument or supplication; to speak by way of persuasion; as, to plead for the life of a criminal; 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 xvi. 21.

Capable of being pleaded; capable of being alleged in proof, defense, or vindication; as, a right or privilege pleadable at law. Dryden.

One who pleads; one who argues for or against; an advotate. So fair a pleader any cause may gain. Dryden.

The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

In a pleading manner.

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness. [Archaic] Shak. "Full great pleasance." Chaucer. "A realm of pleasance." Tennyson.

Pleasing; grateful to the mind or to the senses; agreeable; as, a pleasant journey; pleasant weather. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps. cxxxiii. 1.

Of pleasing speech.

In a pleasant manner.

The state or quality of being pleasant.

That which denotes or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage. The grave abound in pleasantries, the dull in repartees and points of wit. Addison. The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finis…

To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to satisfy. I pray to God that it may plesen you. Chaucer. What next I bring shall please thee, be assured. Milton.

Experiencing pleasure. -- Pleas"ed*ly, adv. -- Pleas"ed*ness, n.

An officious person who courts favor servilely; a pickthank. [Obs.] Shak.

One who pleases or gratifies.

Giving pleasure or satisfaction; causing agreeable emotion; agreeable; delightful; as, a pleasing prospect; pleasing manners. "Pleasing harmony." Shak. "Pleasing features." Macaulay. -- Pleas"ing*ly, adv. -- Pleas"ing*ness, n.

Capable of affording pleasure or satisfaction; gratifying; abounding in pleasantness or pleasantry. Planting of orchards is very . . . pleasurable. Bacon. O, sir, you are very pleasurable. B. Jonson. -- Pleas"ur*a*ble*ness, n. -- Pleas"ur*a*bly, adv.