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Special pleading   /spˈɛʃəl plˈidɪŋ/   Listen
Special pleading

noun
1.
An argument that ignores all unfavorable evidence.
2.
(law) a pleading that alleges new facts in avoidance of the opposing allegations.






WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University








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"Special pleading" Quotes from Famous Books



... her—it might be because of her special pleading—that they had not gone further? Or were they still fighting through the heads, waiting until they got well out to sea before they disposed of him, so there would be no chance of his telltale body washing up along the coast for recognition and search for ...
— A Man to His Mate • J. Allan Dunn

... the course of buying ['ships?'—Arber interpolates] as in former letters specified." If he had not then "ingaged" (as Robinson intimates), as an Adventurer, he surely did later, contrary to the pastor's prediction, and the above may have been a bit of special pleading. Robinson naturally wished to keep their, affairs, so far as possible, in known and supposedly friendly hands, and had possibly some assurances that, as a merchant, Pickering would be willing to invest in a ship for which he ...
— The Mayflower and Her Log, Complete • Azel Ames

... le dogme; mais cela est parfaitement compatible avec l'inspiration, attendu qu'un livre peut-être inspiré sans être dogmatique, et que s'il n'est pas dogmatique par son contenu il ne saurait regler le dogme." But this contention savours somewhat of clever special pleading in order to evade the force of opposing evidence. Loisy, however, for a Roman Catholic, is a wonderfully frank and fair ...
— The Three Additions to Daniel, A Study • William Heaford Daubney

... the special pleading of a criminal—is it not, colonel? If I had really murdered the poor man, would not this be my method of explaining every thing? You see, I do not deny what several witnesses could prove; the fact that I quarreled with Conway, came to high words, uttered insults, exhibited anger, followed ...
— Mohun, or, The Last Days of Lee • John Esten Cooke

... Mutineers had Saved in hope to procure his Master to worke their Pardon." Purchas wrote that "this report of Prickett may happely bee suspected by some as not so friendly to Hudson." Being essentially a bit of special pleading, intended to save his own neck and the necks of his companions, it has rested always under the suspicion that Purchas cast upon it. Nor is it relieved from suspicion by the fact that it is in accord with his sworn testimony, and with the sworn testimony of his fellows, before the High ...
— Henry Hudson - A Brief Statement Of His Aims And His Achievements • Thomas A. Janvier


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