early 13c., "lawsuit," from Anglo-French plai (late 12c.), Old French plait "lawsuit, decision, decree" (9c.), from Medieval Latin placitum "lawsuit," in classical Latin, "opinion, decree," literally "that which pleases, thing which is agreed upon," properly neuter past participle of placere (see please). Sense development seems to be from "something pleasant," to "something that pleases both sides," to "something that has been decided." Meaning "a pleading, an agreement in a suit" is attested from late 14c. Plea-bargaining is first attested 1963. Common pleas (early 13c.) originally were legal proceedings over which the Crown did not claim exclusive jurisdiction (as distinct from pleas of the Crown); later "actions brought by one subject against another."
例文
1. Her plea of guilty to manslaughter through provocation was rejected.
彼女の挑発を受けた過失殺人の有罪答弁は却下された。
2.Phillips murdered his wife,but got off on a plea of insanity.
フィリップスは妻を殺害したが、精神錯乱を理由に罰を逃れた。
3.A guilty plea cuts out the need for a long trial.
有罪を認めれば長時間の裁判は必要ない。
4.The judge questioned him about his guilty plea .
裁判官は彼の自白答弁について尋問した。
5.More and more criminals will agree to plea -bargain.