plea-bargain
UK[ˈpliː ˌbɑːɡɪn]US[ˈpliː ˌbɑːrɡɪn]
n
An agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence or the dropping of other charges.
v
To negotiate an agreement in a criminal case by which a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge.
Morpheme Breakdown
plea
bargain
plea
plead
bargain
deal
Etymology
The compound "plea-bargain" is a modern legal term that transparently combines two established English words to describe a specific judicial process. The first element, "plea," traces back to the Latin verb 'placere,' meaning "to please," which evolved through Old French into the legal sense of a defendant's formal answer to a charge. The second element, "bargain," originates from a Germanic root related to commercial haggling and exchange. The term's logic is direct: it denotes the act of striking a deal concerning one's plea in court, merging the spheres of legal declaration and negotiated settlement into a single procedural concept.
Analysis
Structure: plea (plead) + bargain (deal)
plea: From Anglo-French 'plai', Old French 'plaid' (lawsuit, plea), from Latin 'placitum' (decree, opinion), from 'placere' (to please). Functions as the core concept of a formal statement in a legal proceeding.
bargain: From Old French 'bargaigne' (business, haggling), possibly from a Germanic source. Functions as the core concept of a negotiated agreement or transaction.
Examples
The defendant accepted a plea-bargain to avoid the risk of a life sentence.
Prosecutors often use plea-bargains to ensure a conviction and save court resources.
His lawyer advised him to plea-bargain for a reduced charge of manslaughter.