PLEAD Copy link • PLEADPROP., causas agere, actitare; causas dicere in foro; versari in foro; in judiciis causas versare (Cic., Or., 9, 31); causas tractare atque agere. To plead a cause, causam agere (of the whole management of it; hence apud quos [judices] causa agebatur; Cic., De Or., 2, 48, extr.): causam dicere (to plead one’s own cause as defendant, or another’s as an orator): causam orare, perorare (the latter with reference to pleading it thoroughly, at great length, etc., and often with reference to the concluding appeal: dicta est a me causa et perorata, Cic.): causam defendere (as advocate for defendant). To plead anybody’s cause, orare or dicere pro aliquo; defendere aliquem: to plead one’s own cause, ipsum pro se dicere. Figuratively, To allege, rationem, causam afferre; (as an excuse), excusare aliquid.