Plead
Middle English (in the sense ‘to wrangle’): from Old French plaidier ‘go to law’, from plaid ‘discussion’ (see plea).
wiktionary
From Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Old French plaider(“to plead, offer a plea”), from plait, from Medieval Latin placitum(“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc.", in Classical Latin, "an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placeō(“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleitear(“to litigate, take to court”).
etymonline
plead (v.)
mid-13c., pleden, "make a plea in court," from Anglo-French pleder, Old French plaidier, "plead at court" (11c.), from Medieval Latin placitare, from Late Latin placitum "lawsuit," in classical Latin, "opinion, decree," literally "that which pleases, thing which is agreed upon," properly neuter past participle of placere "to please, give pleasure, be approved" (see please).
From mid-14c. as "advance (something) as evidence, cite (something) in support of an action or in response to a complaint." Sense of "request, beg" is recorded from c. 1400. Related: Pleaded; pleading; pleadingly.
