See Also: stead(1)(dictionary)
stead(2)(dictionary)
stead(dictionary)
Stead, Christina (Ellen)(encyclopedia)

stead(1) (iou)



stead noun.

I.
Standing still, as opp. to movement; stoppage, delay. rare. OE-LME.
II. A particular part of the earth's surface, or of space generally, considered as defined by its situation; a particular locality or place. Freq. in in every stead below. OE-L16.
Spenser Great God it planted in that blessed sted.
a. A definite spot on a surface, esp. on the surface of the body. OE-L15.
b. A mark, an imprint of one object on another, an impression. Usu. in pl. Scot. E16.
a. The place assigned to, belonging to, or normally occupied by a thing; appointed or natural place. Long arch. OE.
W. Morris The mast in its stead we 'stablished.
b. A space or place assigned to or occupied by a person; a seat. OE-M18.
c. The place where a body of soldiers is stationed, a military position. ME-E17.
An inhabited place; a city, a town, a village; rare a country, a land. ME-L16.
b. the Steads [= Middle Low German de Steden], towns of the Hanseatic League. Also, the corporation of Hanse merchants in London. E-M16.
A landed property, an estate; a farm. Formerly also, a portion of an estate. Now chiefly Scot. & dial. ME.
Rider Haggard A Hottentot..who lived on the stead.
A site, a foundation, esp. a site for a building; the land on which a building stands; an enclosure adjoining a building, a yard. (Cf. farmstead s.v. FARM noun, HOMESTEAD.) Now chiefly Scot. ME.
The framework of a bed, a bedstead. Now rare. LME.
III. An official position assigned to or held by a person. OE-E17.
a. The seat or home of hope, passions, etc. Only in ME.
b. A space of time. rare (Spenser). Only in L16.
A place or passage in the Bible or other writing. ME-M16.
The place or function of a person or thing as held by a substitute or a successor. Only in phrs. below. ME.
IV.
Advantage, avail, profit; service, support. Chiefly in do a person stead, stand in stead below. arch. exc. Scot. ME.
Milton Here thy sword can do thee little stead.
Phrases: do a person stead arch. be of advantage to a person. fill the stead of (now rare) serve as a substitute for. in a person's stead (a) as a person's successor; (b) as a person's deputy or representative; (c) as a substitute in the place occupied by a person; (d) instead of a person. in a thing's stead (a) as a substitute in the place occupied by a thing; (b) instead of a thing. in bad stead: see in good stead below. in every stead everywhere. in good stead, in bad stead, etc., rare in good, bad, etc., condition or circumstances (see also stand a person in good stead below). in the stead instead of it, as a substitute. in the stead of (a) in succession to (a person who has died or has otherwise vacated an official position); (b) in lieu of, instead of; (c) in exchange for; (d) be in stead for (rare), make up for the lack of. serve a person in some stead, serve a person in no stead be of some, no, advantage or profit to a person. serve the stead of (now rare) = fill the stead of above. stand a person in good stead, stand a person in stead be advantageous, useful, or profitable to a person. stand in stead be advantageous or profitable (also with indirect obj.). stead of (now dial. & colloq.) instead of. supply the stead of (now rare) = fill the stead of above.