stead

[sted]
noun
1.
the place of a person or thing as occupied by a successor or substitute: The nephew of the queen came in her stead.
2.
Obsolete. a place or locality.
verb (used with object)
3.
to be of service, advantage, or avail to.
4.
stand in good stead, to be useful to, especially in a critical situation: Your experience will stand you in good stead.

Origin:
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

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World English Dictionary
stead (stɛd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  rare (preceded by in) the place, function, or position that should be taken by another: to come in someone's stead
2.  stand someone in good stead to be useful or of good service to (someone)
 
vb
3.  archaic (tr) to help or benefit
 
[Old English stede; related to Old Norse stathr place, Old High German stat place, Latin statiō a standing, statim immediately]

00:10
Stead is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
Stead (stɛd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
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)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

stead
O.E. stede "place, position, standing, delay," related to standan "to stand," from P.Gmc. *stadiz (cf. O.S. stedi, O.N. staðr, Swed. stad, Du. stede "place," O.H.G. stat, Ger. Stadt "town," Goth. staþs "place"), from PIE *stetis-, from base *ste-/*sta- "to stand" (see
stet). Now chiefly in compounds or phrases. Steadfast is from O.E. stedefæst "secure in position," from stede + fæst "firmly fixed" (see fast).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

stead

see in someone's shoes (stead); stand in good stead. Also see under instead.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
It served me and countless other underprivileged students in good stead, and
  even compelled us to budget our time more wisely.
One time he through the match in stead of the firecracker, and the firecracker
  went off in his hand.
The gang ran the region not only under the gaze of government, but also in its
  stead.
Likewise, mom's advice to eat your fruits and vegetables stands your brain in
  good stead.
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