plaidoyer

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French plaidoyer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pleɪdwaˈjeɪ/

Noun

plaidoyer (plural plaidoyers)

1. (chiefly law) An act of pleading; a plea.
   • 2010, Guy Deutscher, Through the Language Glass, Arrow, published 2011, page 7:

     In this plaidoyer for culture, I will argue that cultural differences are reflected in language in profound ways […]

French

Etymology

Noun use of the Old French verb infinitive plaidoiier, plaidiier. See plaider (“to plead”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /plɛ.dwa.je/ ~ /ple.dwa.je/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

plaidoyer m (plural plaidoyers)

1. (law) speech for the defence

   Synonyms: plaiderie, plaidoirie

2. (figuratively) plea

Descendants

• → English: plaidoyer
• → Dutch: pleidooi
  • → Indonesian: pleidoi
• → German: Plädoyer

Further reading

• “plaidoyer”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Norman

Etymology

From Old French plaidoiier, plaidiier.

Noun

plaidoyer m (plural plaidoyers)

1. (Jersey, law) pleading