plea
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/icons/point.icon APOLOGY, APOLOGIA, EXCUSE, PLEA, PRETEXT, ALIBI mean matter offered in explanation or defense.
APOLOGY usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.
e.g. said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could
APOLOGIA implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.
e.g. his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy
EXCUSE implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.
e.g. used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting
PLEA stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.
e.g. her usual plea that she was nearsighted
PRETEXT suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.
e.g. used any pretext to get out of work
ALIBI implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.
e.g. his alibi failed to stand scrutiny
noun
1. a request made in an urgent and emotional manner:
｟かたく｠ «…を求める/…してほしいという» 嘆願, 懇願(appeal) «for/to do»
e.g. he made a dramatic plea for disarmament.
a claim that a circumstance means that one should not be blamed for or should not be forced to do something:
〖通例a ～〗 弁解, 言い訳.
e.g. her plea of a headache was not entirely false.
2. Law a formal statement by or on behalf of a defendant or prisoner, stating guilt or innocence in response to a charge, offering an allegation of fact, or claiming that a point of law should apply:
〖a/one's ～〗 〘法〙 抗弁, 申し立て
e.g. he changed his plea to not guilty.
ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense ‘lawsuit’): from Old French plait, plaid ‘agreement, discussion’, from Latin placitum ‘a decree’, neuter past participle of placere ‘to please’.