The verb plead has 4 senses (first 4 from tagged texts)
1. (10) plead -- (appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop")
2. (4) plead -- (offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity")
3. (4) plead -- (enter a plea, as in courts of law; "She pleaded not guilty")
4. (1) plead -- (make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts)