stead
[ sted ]
/ stɛd /
noun
the place of a person or thing as occupied by a successor or substitute: The nephew of the queen came in her stead.
Obsolete.
a place or locality.
verb (used with object)
to be of service, advantage, or avail to.
Idioms for stead
stand in good stead,
to be useful to, especially in a critical situation: Your experience will stand you in good stead.
Origin of stead
before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English
stede; cognate with German
Stätte place; akin to German
Stadt, Old Norse
stathr, Gothic
staths, Greek
stásis (see
stasis); (v.) Middle English
steden, derivative of the noun
Words nearby stead
ste,
ste.,
ste. anne de beaupré,
ste.-foy,
ste.-thérèse,
stead,
steadfast,
steadicam,
steading,
steady,
steady as a rock
Example sentences from the Web for stead
British Dictionary definitions for stead (1 of 2)
stead
/ (stɛd) /
noun
(preceded by in) rare
the place, function, or position that should be taken by another
to come in someone's stead
stand someone in good stead
to be useful or of good service to (someone)
verb
(tr) archaic
to help or benefit
Word Origin for stead
Old English
stede; related to Old Norse
stathr place, Old High German
stat place, Latin
statiō a standing,
statim immediately
British Dictionary definitions for stead (2 of 2)
Stead
/ (stɛd) /
noun
Christina (Ellen). 1902–83, Australian novelist. Her works include Seven Poor Men of Sydney (1934), The Man who Loved Children (1940), and Cotters' England (1966)
Idioms and Phrases with stead
stead
see in someone's shoes (stead); stand in good stead. Also see under instead.