▪ I. pleader1
(ˈpliːdə(r))
Forms: α. as plead v. α. + 3 -ur, 4 -or, 4–5 -our, -ere, 5 -are, 5– -er, 6 Sc. -ar. β. 4 playtour, -ere, 5–6 pleter, -ar(e, 6 pleater.
[α. ME. playdur, -our, a. OF. plaideor (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), F. plaideur, agent-n. f. OF. plaidier, plaider to plead; with subsequent change of suffix: see -our, -er1. β. after the collateral form playte, plete, pleat of the vb.]
1. One who pleads in a law-court; an advocate.
| α c 1275 Sinners Beware 133 in O.E. Misc. 76 Þeos playdurs beoþ wel kene. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 252 Þus seien pleders and pursueris, þat þei done þus al for love. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 274 The pledour and the plee schal faile, The sentence of that ilke day. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas i. xviii. (MS. Bodl. 263) 76/1 Plederes [ed. 1554 pleters], which for lucre & meede, Meyntene quarelis, and questis doon enbrace. 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) 32 Yet is in the cyte a nombre incurable, Pleders & brokers, a foule & shamefast rable. 1629 Massinger Picture ii. ii, The tradesman, merchant, and litigious pleader, And such-like scarabs bred in the dung of peace. 1772 Junius Lett. lxviii. (1820) 338 The learning of a pleader is usually upon a level with his integrity. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus xxxix. 3 The bench..Where stands a pleader just prepar'd to rouse our tears. |
| β 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 8746 Þyr was a man þat hyghte Valentyne, Playtour he was, and ryche man fyne. 1340 Ayenb. 44 To þise zenne belongeþ þe zenne of ualse domesmen and of ualse playteres. 1474 Caxton Chesse iii. iii. 3, I suppose that in alle cristendom are not so many pletars attorneys and men of the lawe as been in Englond onely. 1545 Brinklow Compl. 2 That all iudges and pleaters at the barre may lyue of a stypend. |
† b. In opprobrious sense. Cf. special pleader.
| 1382 Wyclif Isa. iii. 12 My puple his pleteres [gloss or wrong axers] spoileden. a 1400–50 Alexander 1731 Þat wickidly þou haues..Purvayd þe pletours [L. latrunculos] oure partis to ride. c 1440 Gesta Rom. iii. 8 (Harl. MS.) Advocatis, and pletouris, þe which by sotilte and wickidnesse getithe þe goode of þis wordle. |
† c. A suitor. Obs. rare.
| 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. xx. 89 Pleaders are miserable; for sooner shall they attain to the end of their lives, then to the final decision of their pretended rights. |
2. gen. One who pleads, entreats, or intercedes.
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. i. 36 But sure if you Would be your Countries Pleader, your good tongue... Might stop our Countryman. a 1635 Sibbes Confer. Christ & Mary (1656) 47 We have a pleader in heaven, that will take our part against the accuser of our brethren. 1712 Berkeley Pass. Obed. §33 One great principle which the pleaders for resistance make the ground-work of their doctrine. 1884 Max Müller in 19th Cent. June 1016 We know how able, how persuasive a pleader Darwin could be. |
3. See special pleader.
▪ II. † ˈpleader2 Obs. rare. Law.
Also 5 pletere.
[a. F. plaider, AF. plaiter, pleter, infinitive used as n.: see plead v. and -er4.]
Pleading.
| c 1450 Merlin 18 This was Merlynes pletere for his moder. 1698 Sir G. Treby in Mod. Rep. XII. 229 Testator took out a writ against the defendant.., and died during the pleader. |