- To stand in stead
- Stead Stead (st[e^]d), n. [OE. stede place, AS. stede; akin to
LG. & D. stede, OS. stad, stedi, OHG. stat, G. statt,
st["a]tte, Icel. sta[eth]r, Dan. sted, Sw. stad, Goth.
sta[thorn]s, and E. stand. [root]163. See {Stand}, and cf.
{Staith}, {Stithy}.]
1. Place, or spot, in general. [Obs., except in composition.]
--Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
Fly, therefore, fly this fearful stead anon. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
2. Place or room which another had, has, or might have. ``Stewards of your steads.'' --Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]
In stead of bounds, he a pillar set. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
3. A frame on which a bed is laid; a bedstead. [R.] [1913 Webster]
The genial bed, Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
4. A farmhouse and offices. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [1913 Webster]
Note: The word is now commonly used as the last part of a compound; as, farmstead, homestead, roadstead, etc. [1913 Webster]
{In stead of}, in place of. See {Instead}.
{To stand in stead}, or {To do stead}, to be of use or great advantage. [1913 Webster]
The smallest act . . . shall stand us in great stead. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]
Here thy sword can do thee little stead. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.