Plead (redirected from pleader)

plead v. 1) in civil lawsuits and petitions, the filing of any document (pleading) including complaints, petitions, declarations, motions, and memoranda of points and authorities. 2) in criminal law, the entry of plea of a defendant in response to each charge of criminal conduct. (See: plea, pleading)

---

TO PLEAD. The formal entry of the defendant's defence on the record. In a popular sense, it signifies the argument in a cause, but it is not so used by the profession. Steph. Pl. Appx. note I; Story, Eq. Pl. Sec. 5, note.