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stead

 - 4 dictionary results

stead

  [sted] ,
Use stead in a Sentence
–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.
—Idiom
4. stand in good stead, to be useful to, esp. in a critical situation: Your experience will stand you in good stead.
Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME, OE stede; c. G Stätte place; akin to G Stadt, ON stathr, Goth staths, Gk stásis (see stasis ); (v.) ME steden, deriv. of the n.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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stead   (stěd)   
n.  

  1. The place, position, or function properly or customarily occupied by another.

  2. Advantage; service; purpose: "His personal relationship with the electorate stands in good stead" (John Sears).

tr.v.   stead·ed, stead·ing, steads
To be of advantage or service to; benefit.

[Middle English stede, from Old English; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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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