doctoral thesis vs plea

doctoral thesis

noun
  • A research paper that a student writes in order to complete the requirements for a doctorate; a dissertation. 

plea

noun
  • The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand. 

  • That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification. 

  • A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. 

  • An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty. 

  • An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer. 

  • An excuse; an apology. 

  • That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause. 

verb
  • To plead; to argue. 

How often have the words doctoral thesis and plea occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )