plead-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: appeal, beg, or request earnestly

Examples:
I plead with him to stop.
He was on his knees, pleading for mercy.
She appeared on television to plead with the kidnappers.
They pled/pleaded for more time.
This is a simple statement that pleads for you to take control of your life.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: Request
PropBank: plead.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: offer reason as an excuse

Examples:
It's no use pleading ignorance.
Dorothy, of course, pleads stupidity because she has no idea what any of the tools do.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: plead.02

Sense Number 3: LEGAL-state a plea, make allegation, present a case

Examples:
He pled/pleaded insanity.
She pled/pleaded guilty to the bank robbery.
They paid a high-powered attorney to plead their case.
The judge ruled her unfit to plead on the grounds of insanity.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Appeal,Entering_of_plea
PropBank: plead.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 3, 4