pleading

adj. asking, requesting; begging, imploring; arguing, claiming; entreating

n. argument, argument; claim, suit

v. allege, argue; petition, solicit; entreat, appeal, implore

In law, a pleading is one of the papers filed with a court in a civil action, such as a complaint, a demurrer, or an answer. A complaint is the first pleading filed by a plaintiff which initiates a lawsuit. A complaint sets forth the relevant allegations of fact that give rise to one or more legal causes of action along with a prayer for relief whereas a demurrer is a pleading filed by a defendant which challenges the legal sufficiency of a complaint and an answer is a pleading which admits or denies the specific allegations set forth in a complaint and constitutes a general appearance by a defendant. A defendant may also file a cross-complaint as well as bringing other parties into a case by the process of impleader.
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Noun
1. (law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
(hypernym) statement
(hyponym) affirmative pleading
(part-meronym) bill of Particulars
(derivation) plead
(classification) law, jurisprudence
Adjective
1. expressing earnest entreaty; "the appealing and frightened look worn by an injured dog"; "she holds out her hand for money, importunate, insistent"; "a pleading note in her voice"
(synonym) appealing, imploring, importunate
(similar) beseeching

Verb
1. appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop"
(hypernym) appeal, invoke
(hyponym) beg, implore, pray
2. offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity"
(hypernym) apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise
3. enter a plea, as in courts of law; "She pleaded not guilty"
(hypernym) declare
(derivation) pleading
(classification) law, jurisprudence
4. make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
(hypernym) allege, aver, say
(hyponym) demur
(derivation) advocate, counsel, counselor, counsellor, counselor-at-law, pleader
(classification) law, jurisprudence

(p. pr. & vb. n.)
of Plead
  

(n.)
The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.
  

Documents setting out claim/defence of parties involved in civil proceedings