WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Stead
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OE. stede place, AS. stede; akin to LG. & D. stede, OS. stad, stedi, OHG. stat, G. statt, st?tte, Icel. staedhr, Dan. sted, Sw. stad, Goth. sta, and E. stand. *163. See Stand, and cf. Staith, Stithy.]
Definition : 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.]

Note: The word is now commonly used as the last part of a compound; as, farmstead, homestead, readstead, 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Stead
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 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.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913