a method of responding to a case when there were errors in identifying the parties to the case; e.g., a discrepancy in the name of one or more litigants on different documents, the death of a litigant before the case began, or the naming of someone who should not have been a party to the case. A defendant had to enter a plea in abatement before any other pleading. If successful, it ended the case but did not prevent the plaintiff from suing again after correcting the error. See also Abatement.