Started to plead on a point (5)

I believe the answer is:

began

'started' is the definition.
('begin' can be a synonym of 'start')

'plead on a point' is the wordplay.
'plead' becomes 'beg' (begging is a kind of pleading).
'on' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'point' becomes 'n' (North).
'beg'+'a'+'n'='BEGAN'

'to' acts as a link.

(Another definition for began that I've seen is " Commenced, started".)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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