Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Stead
Stead
(stĕd)
, Noun.
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
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, roadstead, etc.
In stead of
, in place of. See
– Instead
. To stand in stead
, or To do stead
to be of use or great advantage.
The smallest act . . . shall
stand
us in
great stead
. Atterbury.
Here thy sword can
do
thee little stead
. Milton.
Stead
,Verb.
T.
1.
To help; to support; to benefit; to assist.
Perhaps my succour or advisement meet,
Mote
Mote
stead
you much your purpose to subdue. Spenser.
It nothing
To chide him from our eaves.
steads
usTo chide him from our eaves.
Shakespeare
2.
To fill the place of.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Stead
STEAD
, STED,Noun.
1.
Place; in general.Fly this fearful stead.
[In this sense not used.]
2.
Place or room which another had or might have, noting substitution, replacing or filling the place of another, as, David died and Solomon reigned in his sted.God hath appointed me another seed in stead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Genesis 4.
3.
The frame on which a bed is laid.Sallow the feet, the borders and the sted.
[But we never use this word by itself in this sense. We always use bedstead.]
To stand in sted, to be of use or great advantage.
The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead.