stead Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
    position; place; lieu.
    • can you go in my stead?
    • took his place
    • in lieu of

WordNet

Stead noun
Etymology
OE. stede place, AS. stede; akin to LG. & D. stede, OS. stad, stedi, OHG. stat, G. statt, stätte, Icel. sta&edh;r, Dan. sted, Sw. stad, Goth. stas, and E. stand. *163. See Stand, and cf. Staith, Stithy.
Definitions
  1. Place, or spot, in general. Obs., except in composition. Chaucer.
    Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon. Spenser.
  2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have. "Stewards of your steads." Piers Plowman.
    In stead of bounds, he a pillar set. Chaucer.
  3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. R.
    The genial bed, Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead. Dryden.
  4. A farmhouse and offices. Prov. Eng. & Scot. ✍ The word is now commonly used as the last part of a compound; as, farmstead, homestead, readstead, etc.
    The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great stead. Atterbury.
    Here thy sword can do thee little stead. Milton.
Stead transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To help; to support; to benefit; to assist.
    Perhaps my succour or advisement meet, Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue. Spenser.
    It nothing steads us To chide him from our eaves. Shak.
  2. To fill place of. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913