plea-n; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: request or entreaty to an authority for help

Commentary: PLEA[+event][+speech_act][+reequest][+to_authority][+for_help]

Examples:
He made a dramatic plea for disarmament to the delegates.
The torturer ignored the prisoner's pleas for mercy.
Our pleas for more civil discourse during town meeting were largely ignored.

Mappings:
PropBank: plea.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: the response of a defendant to a legal charge

Commentary: PLEA[+event][+speech_act][+response][+of_defendant][+to_charge][+legal]

Examples:
The defendant changed his plea to guilty prior to appearing in court.
She entered a plea of not guilty.

Mappings:
PropBank: plea.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: an offered allegation in a legal case

Commentary: PLEA[+event][+speech_act][+allegation][+offered][+case][+legal]

Examples:
The lawyer may get the sentence reduced on a plea of insanity.
Her plea alleges adultery by the petitioner with the named person below.

Mappings:
PropBank: plea.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: an excuse or justification for something

Commentary: PLEA[+event][+speech_act][+justification][+excuse] [+relation][+role][+alibi]

Examples:
Bob declined the dinner invitation with the plea of a headache.
John wouldn't listen to her pleas of too much work and whisked her off for a romantic weekend.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 3