Found 2 items, similar to stead.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: stead stead n : the function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another; “can you go in my stead?”; “took his place”; “in lieu of” [syn: position, place, lieu]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Stead Stead \Stead\, v. t. 1. To help; to support; to benefit; to assist. [1913 Webster] Perhaps my succour or advisement meet, Mote stead you much your purpose to subdue. --Spenser. [1913 Webster] It nothing steads us To chide him from our eaves. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To fill the place of. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster] 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]