Plea

At law, an answer alleging fact which the defendant opposes to the plaintiff's declaration; in equity, a short answer in bar of the suit setting up facts which, if inserted in the bill, would have rendered it demurrable, v. Abatement; Avoidance; Confession;, Dilatory; Puis darrein, etc. Plea In abatement: a plea which goes to abate the plaintiff's action, that is, to suspend or put it off. Plea in bar: a plea which goes to bar the plaintiff's action, that is, to defeat it altogether. In old English late. A suit or action, — a sense in which the word is a pleading; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer.