Forms: 1 stede, styd(d, styde, steyde, 2–6 stede, 2–5 stude, 4–5 stud, stide, stad, 3, 6 stidde, 3–7, 8 arch. sted, 3, 5–6 stedd, 6 stedde, 4 steode, stode, stade, (stayd), 4–7 Sc. steid, 4, 6 styde, (5 steyde), 6 Sc. steide, steyd, 4–5, 8 stid, 5 styd, stydd, stydde, 7 stidd, 4–7 steede, 6–7 steed, steade, 5– stead. [Com. Teut.: OE. stęde masc., corresp. to OFris. stede, stidi (NFris. städ, WFris. stêd town), OS. stad (?), stedi masc. and fem., place (MLG. stad, stede fem., place, town), MDu. stat, stēde fem., place, town (mod.Du. stad fem., town, stede, stee place), OHG. stat fem., place (MHG. stat, stete fem., place, town, mod.G. statt place, stead, stätte place, site, stadt town), ON. stað-r masc., place (Sw., Da. stad, with the sense ‘town’ from G.), Goth. staþ-s masc., place:—OTeut. *stađi-z:—pre-Teut. *stətí-s (cf. Skr. sthíti standing, position, Gr. στάσις standing, stoppage, L. statim advb. accus., immediately, statio STATION sb.), f. wk.-grade of *stā- to STAND.
A parallel form, OTeut. *stađō(n)- fem., occurs in OHG. stata condition, opportunity, proper time or place (MHG. state, mod.G. statt in certain uses), MLG., Du. stade opportunity, help, ON. staða standing, position, condition. Some of the uses of stead closely approach those of MLG. stade, and may possibly be due to influence from MLG.]
† 1. Standing still, as opposed to movement; stoppage, delay. Obs. rare.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 156. Hwæt is þæs Hælendes stede, oððe hwæt is his fær? Ibid., I. 490. Sceawiað eac æfter ðisum, þæt nan stede nis ures lichaman: cildhad ʓewit to cnihthade, and cnihthad to ʓeðungenum wæstme.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4654. All turnyt þaire tacle with trussyng of sailes, And stird hom full streight withouten stad more Into Awlida þe yle.
II. A point or tract in space. Cf. PLACE sb. I.
† 2. A particular part of the earth’s surface, or of space generally, considered as defined by its situation; a locality: = PLACE sb. 3. Obs.
† a. with descriptive adj. Obs.
c. 975. Rushw. Gosp., Mark i. 35. Ðona eode in westiʓe stowe vel steyde & ðær ʓebæd.
c. 1050. Suppl. Ælfric’s Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 187. Circumlutus locus, mid wæter ymbtyrnd stede.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 85. Ðenne þe iuele gost … wandreð ouer al, fro driȝe stede to oder sechende reste.
a. 1290. St. Miȝhel, 599, in S. Eng. Leg., 316. Novþe is þare uppe in þe ufte a swyþe cold stude, i-wis.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 388. Now se, mi Sone, which a sinne Is Sacrilege in holy stede.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., lviii. 79. Þat wyn whos grape … growys in playn and moyst valeyes, and stedys shadwyd.
1567. Drant, Horace Ep., Art Poet., B ij. Of hills and dales and secret stendes he feanes him to be fayne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xi. 46. Great God it planted in that blessed sted With his almightie hand.
† b. defined by dependent genitive, or by relative clause. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Joshua v. 16. For þam þe se stede ys haliʓ, þe þu on stenst.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22963. Þe stede o dome quar all sal mete.
13[?]. K. Alis., 2548 (Laud MS.). Hij wendeþ to þe batailes stede And fyndeþ nouȝth bot bodies dede.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron. CXXI. iii. 6. Whiche Abbaye is in Sussex, in that stede Where the batayle was.
1483. Caxton, Golden Leg., 160/1. And al sodeynly the stones opened and shewed to alle the peple the place and stede where the holy body restyd.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. xii. 30. And now they nigh approched to the sted, Where as those Mermayds dwelt: it was a still And calmy bay.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. v. 261. Perceiueng … how Scopulous, stendirrie, or stanie, was the stedd, quhairon thay than stude.
† c. indeterminately. Often coupled with time. In every stead: everywhere; similarly in any, no stead. Obs.
a. 1067. Charter of Eadweard, in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., IV. 209. Wiðinne burhe and wiðuten and on ælce styde, be lande and be strande.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 316. Abuten sunne liggeð six þinges þet hit helieð;… persone, stude, time, manere, tale, cause.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 22. Flih … þe stude & te time, þe mahten bringe þe on mis forte donne.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2029. Yn stedys sere.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1701. For dedely syn and þe devell and he In a stede may noght to-gyder be.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 318. So þise ordris holden not cristis rewele neþer in tyme ne in stide for crist preyede … bi hym self vndir the cope of heuene.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 359. This Pilour,… A famous man in sondri stede Was of the werkes whiche he dede.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., xlvii. 75. Slepyng aftyr eityng vpon soft beddes & wele sauorand, in steydes & tymes couenable.
c. 1420. Sir Amadace (Camden), viii. 9. Seche a stinke as I had thare … had I neuyr are No quere in no stid.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., i. 38. Waters, that so wyde ben spred, be gedered to geder in to one stede.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XII. ii. 39. Or quhar the schene lilleis in ony steid War pulderit wyth the vermel rosis reid.
1552–3. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 109. As the same was neadfully behoveable to be occupied from tyme to time at sondry steades.
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 122. Ought I, by wishe, to live in any stedde But closde with him together in the grave?
1566. Drant, Horace, Wail. Hieremie, ii. K iiij b. Ofte cryed they … Lyke wounded wightes throughout the streetes, they sounded in eche stede.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 42. Next that ye Ladies ayde in euery stead and stound.
† d. The place designated by the context. In, on (the, that) stead, on the spot, there. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Joshua x. 12. Ne stira þu sunne of þam stede furðor onʓean Gabaon. Ibid., x. 13. Þa stod seo sunne on þam stede faste.
a. 1175. in Napier, Holy Rood-tree, 22. Ne mihte heom nan mon of þam stude awæcgan.
c. 1205. Lay., 6370. A-nan se he wes wrað wid eni i þan stude he hine wolde slæn.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 404. [The fox] goð o felde to a furȝ and … Ne stereð ȝe noȝt of ðe stede a god stund deies.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 2453. I þat ilke stude, anan, iwurðen twa wundres.
13[?]. Bonaventura’s Medit., 135. To a logher place þey gunne þan to go…. He made hem sytte downe yn þat stede.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 272. Bot the goddesse … appiereth in the stede, And hath … forbede That thei the children nocht ne sle.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 8627. He stode þus in stid, starit hym vpon.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 1759. This hors and the two men than vanyst out of the stede.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 21. He ran Vnto that stead, their strife to vnderstond.
† e. On, in stead and stall: see STALL sb.1 1 note.
1042. in Thorpe, Charters (1865), 348. Nu bidde ic ealle Godes freond … þæt hi for Godes eiʓe næfre ne beon on stede ne on stealle þær æfre undon worðe þæt … we nu ʓeunnen habben into þæt haliʓe minstre.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 489. Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man ðat oðer biswikeð on stede er on stalle.
c. 1440. Rule St. Benet (Verse), Prol. 146. Þat to hys neghburs dose no noy In stede ne stayll, þaire staite to stroy.
† f. To give stead = to give place: see PLACE sb. 23, GIVE v. 47 a, b. Obs.
c. 1340. Hampole, Prose Tr., 19. Bot if þe þinke it oþer-wyse, or elles any oþer man sauour by grace þe contrarye here-to, I leue þe saying and gyfe stede to hym.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iv. (Jacobus), 267. And þe stane, quhen he lad was þer, wex nesch as it wax war, and gaf sic sted to þat body, as It a grave had bene, in hy.
138[?]. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 41. Sitte not in þe first place, lest … þe lord of þe feste bidde þee Ȝiue þis man stede.
1450–1530. Myrr. Our Ladye, 322. Waylynge gyueth stede to ioye.
1483. Cath. Angl., 155/2. To Giffe stede, cedere, locum dare.
† g. abstr. Situation. Obs. rare.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 329. Þerfore first me schall telle of [þe] place and stede of þat lond [L. de situ terræ locali], how greet and what manere lond it is.
† 3. An inhabited place; a city, town, village, hamlet, etc.; occas. a country, land. Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1114. For men ðor sinne un-kinde deden, so for-sanc and brente ðat steden [Sodom].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1520. & hei duc of al þulke stude he clupede þen toun iwis After his name gloucestre.
a. 1300. Havelok, 744. And for þat Grim þat place aute, Þe stede of Grim þe name laute.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 1163. A winde to wil him bare To a stede þer him was boun Neiȝe hand: Deluelin hiȝt þe toun.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, iii. (Andrew), 253. He met men bringand of þe sted a ȝonge man, þat wes ded.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9712. His body to britton, & his burgh take; All his stid to distroy and his stith holdis.
1577. Harrison, England, III. i. [II. vi.] 96/2, in Holinshed. These 2. [drinks] are very common in Kent, Worcester, & other steedes, where these kindes of fruites doe abounde.
† b. The Steads [= MLG. de Steden]: ‘the Cities’ of the Hanseatic League; the Hanse Towns. Also, the corporation of Hanse merchants in London. Obs.
15[?]. Droichis Part of Play, 106, in Dunbar’s Poems, 318. Swadrik, Denmark, and Norraway, Nor in the Steiddis I dar nocht ga.
1533. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 414. The Cytees of Lubeke, Danske, Hamburgh, Bromeswyke, and all other the Stedes of the Haunse Tutonyk.
1552. in Acts Privy Counc. (N.S.), IV. 141. The Merchauntes of the Steedes, commonly called the Merchauntes of the Stilliarde. Ibid. (1557), VI. 73. The said Merchauntes … have alleadged … that the Steades have byn so letted by greate busynes as they coulde not sende thiere Agentes for the going forwarde with the said Diet. Ibid. (1558), 315. The returne home into their cuntreys of the lxxvj hulkes of the Steades presently at Portesmouthe.
1558. Gresham, in Burgon, Life (1839), I. 484. Thatt you neavir restore the steydes called the Stillyarde againe to ther privelydge.
† 4. A definite spot on a surface, esp. on the surface of the body. Obs.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 74. Lecge on ðone stede þe se spring on ʓesittan wolde.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 136. Bihold ofte þeron [the crucifix], & cus þe wunde studen.
c. 1300. Seyn Julian, 57 (Ashm. MS.). Fram þe necke to þe fot ech stude it þoruȝ soutȝe.
a. 1375. Joseph Arim., 578. [He] wolde ha striken Seraphe at a stude derne, vppon an hole of his helm.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 204. Thy vyne in oon stede alway, thou ne bynde.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xii. 230. Thus they fought two houres … & in many stedys they were wounded.
b. Sc. A mark, imprint, vestige. Chiefly pl.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. iv. 71. The pray half ettin behind thame lat thay ly, With fute steidis vile and laith to se.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. II. 170. The reliques or stedis thairof [Adrian’s Wall] this day ar seine, ȝit named the Vale of Adrian.
1710. Ruddiman, Gloss. Virgil’s Æneis, s.v. Stede, Fute stedis, foot steps, tract or print of the feet: For Stead Scot is commonly taken for the foundation or ground on which a house or such like stands, or the tract or impression made in the Earth, and appearing when they are taken away.
1826. Galt, Last of Lairds, iv. 32. He nippit my twa lugs till he eft the stedt o’ his fingers as plainly upon them as [etc.].
1896. Crockett, Grey Man, v. 35. On the trampled clay and mud, there were the steads of naked feet.
5. Chiefly with possessive. a. The place assigned to, belonging to, or normally occupied by a thing; appointed or natural place. Obs. exc. arch.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiii. § 5. Ac þæs fyres aʓen stede is ofer eallum woruldʓesceaftum ʓesewenlicum.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 117. God bi-quuad watres here stede.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, 731. Thou wost … That euery kyndely thynge that is Hath a kyndely stede ther he May best in hyt conserued be.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 2. The fyrst day, as Saynt Jerom sayth, þe see schall aryse vp yn hyr styd.
1887. Morris, Odyss., XII. 402. The mast in its stead we ’stablished and hauled the sails in air.
† b. A space or place assigned to or occupied by a person; a seat. Obs.
c. 960. Rule St. Benet, xliii. 68 (Schröer). Ne stande he on chore on his stede and endebyrdnesse, ac stande he ealra ytemest.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1418. Þe soþe myght y neuer wytte, who shuld yn þo stedys sytte.
c. 1400. Love, Bonavent. Mirr. (1907), 106. Sitte and take thy stede in the lowest place.
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 851. Whan Gamelyn was i-set in the justices stede.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 41. The souldier may not moue from watchfull sted, Nor leaue his stand, vntill his Captaine bed.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., VII. iii. Where glorious Cities stood,… There shrieching Satyres fill the peoples emptie steads.
1751. G. West, Educ., xci. Fir’d with th’ Idea of her future Fame She rose majestick from her lowly sted.
† c. The place where a body of soldiers is stationed, a military position. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 5085. He did sette in wardes [v.r. stedes] seers, Knyghte to wachem, & squiers.
1577. Holinshed, Hist. Eng., I. 39/1. Being returned into Gallia, [he] placed his souldiors in steeds to soiourne there for the winter season. Ibid., 49/1. Plautius … placed garrisons in steedes, where neede required, to keepe those places whiche hee had gotten.
1627. Drayton, Agincourt, 53. A vast Route … Had for their safety … Got in their flight into so strong a sted, So fortifi’d by nature … They might not thence, but with much blood be brought.
6. A property or estate in land; a farm; also † a portion of an estate.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 247. Þe dettes þat men þam auht, þer stedes & þer wonyng, Wer taxed.
1452. in P. F. Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), II. 387. All the tenants … except them that occupies the grangis and steids whilk war in the hands of the said Earle William.
1487. Exch. Rolls Scot., IX. 470, note. All and hale our stedis of Catslak [etc.] with aucht hundreith scheip … apon the said stedis.
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 365. Thow has a tome purs, I haue stedis and takkis.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 532. And mony ane out of his awin hous chaist, And mony sted wnpleneist lyand waist.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 43. Thilke same bene shepeheards for the Deuils stedde.
1594–5. Durham Wills (Surtees), II. 255. A farme or stead, worthe 20 l.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Stead, Sted, Stid, a place, a farm house and offices.
1887. Stokes, trans. Tripartite Life of Patrick, 139. On the water is a stead, Buale Patraic (‘Patrick’s Byre’) is its name.
1889. Rider Haggard, Allan’s Wife, vii. I took a Hottentot … who lived on the stead, into my confidence.
7. A site for a building; the land on which a building stands; also, an enclosure attached to a building, a yard. (Cf. farm-stead, homestead, mowstead.)
1246–68. Cockersand Chartul. (Chetham), III. I. 843. Quamdam partem terræ in Caton jacentem subtus le Walkemilnestude infra has divisas, scilicet [etc.].
1534. Munim. de Melros (Bannatyne Club), 629. Giff it sall happyn ws … till byg … ane walk myll on þe said myll sted within þe saidis landis.
1546. Yorkshire Chantry Surv. (Surtees), 181. A barne stede j garden stede.
1610. Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot., 80. Lie teind-barne et teind-barne yaird, cum lie peithous-steid. Ibid. (1634), 103. 2 terras husb. et 3 terras cott. et lie grasteid.
1773. East Cottingwith Incl. Act, 7. Messuage steads and cottage steads.
1894. R. S. Ferguson, Hist. Westmorland, 165. The ‘steads’ or sites of many disused ‘walk mills’ or fulling mills.
† 8. The framework that supports the bedding of a bed. Obs. Cf. BEDSTEAD.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 517, in Babees Bk. Þen … the vssher … Brynges hym in bed where he shalle wynke; In strong styd on palet he lay.
1625. Quarles, Sion’s Sonn., XI. iii. The Bridall bed of Princely Solomon,… Was but of Cedar; and her Sted of gold.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 726. With Wars and Taxes others waste their own,… To loll on Couches, rich with Cytron steds.
1799. E. Du Bois, Piece Family Biog., III. 102. The valance or curtain that hangs round the tester and stead of the bed.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Stead, the frame of a bed.
III. Metaphorical and idiomatic uses.
† 9. In various rare or occasional uses. a. Abiding-place (of hope, passions, etc.). b. To take stead: to take effect. c. In good (etc.) stead: in good (etc.) circumstances. d. A space of time. Obs.
a. c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 95. Ðe faste hope halð hire stede up an heih.
a. 1395. Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), I. lxx. In thyn herte where the stede of loue is thou sholde mow haue parte of suche loue to thyn euen crysten.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 3403. Wengeance, in þis good lord, hadde no stide.
b. c. 1200. Ormin, 10101. Hiss spell toc mikell stĕde i þa Þatt herrdenn whatt he seȝȝde.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19266. And custom it es … Quen lagh es mad bituix þam neu At þe biginning for to be redd, Þat dred mai do þe lagh ta sted. Ibid., 29274. On þam þis cursing stede first takes.
c. 13[?]. R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. H. 30. Whanne he was out of wraþþe and was in god stad.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxviii. (Margaret), 91. Ȝet, þo scho wes in pouir stede & nocht with hyr fadir cane be fede, nocht-þane [etc.].
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. xii. 23. With the souse thereof full sore aghast, He staggered to and fro in doubtfull sted.
d. 1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 40. [He] though she were with wearinesse nigh dead, Yet would not let her lite, nor rest a little stead.
† 10. a. A place or passage in Scripture or other writing. b. A point in order of progression. Obs.
a. c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 73. On oðer stude of rihte ileue spec þe apostle and seið … Inpossibile [etc.].
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 81. An oðer stede he seið, godd: Ve qui ridetis [etc.].
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 144. Vor wecche is ine holi write i monie studen ipreised. Ibid., 410. I-writen on oðer stude.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 131. As dauid seith in þe sauter…; And in an other stede also velud [etc.].
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 264. Ful many an other thing sche dede, Which is noght writen in this stede.
c. 1520. M. Nisbet, N. T. in Scots, Acts xiii. 35. And tharfor on an vthir stede he sais, Thou sal nocht geue thi hali to se corruptioun.
1557. Card. Pole, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1822), III. II. App. lxviii. 507. And what is the benedictyon of this stede of almesse, the prophete Esaias shewethe in that same place.
b. c. 1370. Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. B.), 454. When þou has made þis orison, þen shal þow with deuocion Make þi prayeres in þat stede for alle þi frendes, þat are dede.
† 11. An office or position assigned to or held by a person. Obs.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., in Sweet, Sel. Hom. Ælfr., 9. Þu ʓeearnast … þone stede þe se deofol of afeoll þurh unʓehyrsumnysse.
c. 1205. Lay., 239. Asscanius þe kene þe wes i kinges stude four & þritti winter he heold þat lond.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 3. Constantin & Maxence weren, on ane time, as in keiseres stude hehest i Rome.
a. 1300. Fall & Passion, 17, 18, in E. E. P. (1862), 13. Har [Lucifer & his angels] stides for to ful fille þat wer i-falle for prude an hore, god makid adam to is wille to fille har stides þat wer ilor.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 363. When … any is absente, they that be present schal fulfylle ther stedes.
c. 1600. in Trans. Roy. Hist. Soc. (1902), XVI. 46. [They] shall continue in the said office place Roome and Stead of Assistants till [etc.].
12. The place, ‘room,’ ‘lieu,’ or function (of a person or thing) as held by a substitute or a successor. Only in certain phrases.
† a. To keep (a person’s) stead: to be (his) deputy, act on (his) behalf. So to commit one’s stead to (another). Obs.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 72. He committid his stede to eueriche of hem, with þe powere of lawful constreininge. Ibid., 131. Whenne Ralph, prior of wircetur, kepid þe stede of Roger, bisshoppe of wircetur. Ibid., 350. A-fore þe prior of walingeforde, principall iugge, & the chaunter of walingeforde, kepynge the stedys of the abbottes of Abendon & of dorchester.
b. To † do (obs.), fill, serve, supply the stead of, to serve as a substitute for. Now rare.
1558. Bp. Watson, Sev. Sacram., iii. 13. Martyrdome … dothe supplye the steede of Babtysme,… when onely necessitie … excludeth the Sacrament.
1601. Daniel, Civ. Wars, VII. lviii. Conducting their fresh troupes against their King (Who leaves a woman to supply his steed).
1611. W. Sclater, Key (1629), 244. Suffering sometimes doth the steed of baptisme.
1837. C. Lofft, Self-form., I. 199. They may serve the stead of presence of mind, to a certain point at least.
1888. Goode, Amer. Fishes, 2. The allied Percichthys replaces it in temperate South America,… while in northern China Siniperca fills its stead.
c. In the stead of: (a) in the room of, in succession to (one who has died, has retired from or is superseded in an office); † (b.) as the deputy or representative of (obs.); † (c) in lieu of, instead of (a person or thing that might more naturally have been chosen, have happened, etc.) (obs.); (d) in lieu of, in exchange for (something given up); (e) predicatively, to be in the stead of (also, ? nonce-use, † to be in stead for), to make up for the want of. Now somewhat arch.
(a) c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 425. Ðan bor ghe seht in ðe stede Of caym ðat abel for-dede.
1558. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 481. Mr. Thomas Fynen is elected Alderman in the styde of Mr. John Nangle.
1784. Acts & Laws Connecticut, 159. Such Select-men and Committees as shall from Time to Time succeed, and come in the Room and Stead of others removed by Death.
1786. W. Thomson, Watson’s Philip III. (1839), 255. Matthias II. being raised to the imperial throne in the stead of his deceased brother.
(b) c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 55. Siþ prelatis & prestis ordeyned of good comen in þe stede of postlis & disciples, þei ben alle bounden … to preche þus þe gospel.
(c) c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 6. Þat þe peple … worschip not … þe fend in þe sted of Crist.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., xviii. 146. I putte lateyn in the stydde of Englyshe.
1460–70. Bk. Quintessence, II. 16. If ȝe haue non preparate redy … þanne take in þe stide þerof fyn brennynge watir.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, I. xxv. C ij b. For whych cause a capitayne … wyll cause false tales … to be sparpled abrode, in the stede and place of true tydynges.
1654. R. Codrington, trans. Justine, XX. 289. They brought home comfort to their distressed Army in the stead of help.
1734. Watts, Reliq. Juv. (1789), 35. Sometimes they shew a painted idol in the stead of him [God].
(d) a. 1761. Law, Comf. Weary Pilgrim (1809), 10. It was human nature … that had lost its first heavenly life and got a bestial, diabolical life in the stead of it.
1874. Green, Short Hist., x. § 3. 775. A Constitution … was accepted by Lewis the Sixteenth in the stead of his old despotic power.
(c) 1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. vii. 7. A tall young oake he bore, Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore, And beath’d in fire for steele to be in sted.
1839. De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 193. This pleasure was to him in the stead of many libraries.
d. In his stead (or with any other possessive): (a) as a successor in his room (cf. 12 c (a)); (b) as his deputy or representative (arch.), also † predicatively; † (c) as a substitute in the place occupied by him (obs.); (d) instead of him (cf. 12 c (c)).
Now only literary. Formerly the plural steads was often used when preceded by a plural possessive.
(a) c. 1320. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 1207. Thai sschal … Put the out of thi kinges sete, And sette him stede inne thine.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 39. Leste þe kyng and his Counseil ȝor Comunes apeire, And beo stiward in oure stude.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, Prol. 161. Mathias wes chosin in his stede.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4862. Whanne fader or moder arn in grave, Hir children shulde … Ful diligent ben, in her steede.
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire, ii. (1891), 31. Chancerye and Eschequer were cleene abolished … and newe Courtes errected in theire steedes by the saied Statute.
1696. Churchw. Acc. Pittington, etc. (Surtees), 260. A new saxton to be chosen in his roome or steed.
(b) c. 1400. Rule St. Benet (Prose), lxiii. 41. Þabbesse, for sho es in godis stede, sal be callid ‘dame.’
1417. in Proc. Privy Council (1834), II. 238. Charjng the captens and cunstables to take other in hor styddes.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, xliii. 27. Send in ȝour steid, Ȝour ladeis grathit vp gay.
1560. Bible (Geneva), Gen. xxx. 2. Am I in Gods stede, which hathe withholden from thee the frute of the wombe?
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist., Socrates, II. xxxi. 288. In their steede which were absent, their readers and Deacons subscribed.
a. 1629. Hinde, J. Bruen, vii. (1641), 24. Acknowledging that he was unto him in Gods stead.
(c) 1590. Greene, Never too Late, II. (1600), Q 4. The seedes of shame I from my hart remoue, And in their steades I set downe plants of grace.
1612. Coverte, Voy., 5. Which sheepe we tooke with vs and left sixe beasts or bullocks in their steads.
1676. Hale, Contempl., I. 109. Thou … wert willing to put thy soul in our souls stead.
1728. Pope, Dunc., I. 180. Or quite unravel all the reas’ning thread, And hang some curious cobweb in its stead.
1774. Chesterf., Lett., I. viii. 21. Diana put a hind in her [Iphigeneia’s] stead.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xlix. Zarah … admitted that she had deranged the project…, by placing the dwarf in her own stead.
(d) c. 1230. Hali Meid., 10. For under weole, i wunnes stude þu hauest her ofte helle.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. i. (Arb.), 172. Some busie carpers will scorne at my new deuised termes: auricular and sensable, saying that I might with better warrant haue vsed in their steads these words, orthographicall or syntacticall.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 304. A lash like mine no honest man shall dread, But all such babbling blockheads in his stead.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 769. Down falls the venerable pile…. Springs a palace in its stead But in a distant spot.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, I. iii. Terror reigns in sorrow’s stead.
1852. H. Rogers, Eclipse of Faith (1862), 210. Each seemed to substitute in its stead something he liked better.
1856. Longf., Golden Leg., II. Gottlieb. Or unless Some maiden … Offers her life for that of her lord, And is willing to die in his stead.
1871. Miss Yonge, Cameos, II. viii. 103. He begged the King to choose in his stead, one of the numerous royal princes.
† e. In stead of: see INSTEAD. Obs.
f. Stead of = instead of. (See INSTEAD.) Now only dial.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, IX. xxix. (1494), G ij. Sabath desyrous to succede Stede of his brother the kingdom to possede.
14[?]. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 76. The whyche … Songe a balad stede of the masse.
1612. R. Daborne, Chr. turn’d Turke, 1180. [He] who adiudged to death By his heads losse, should craue (stead of one stroke) To dye a lingring torment on the racke.
1791. Nairne, Poems, 131. And backwards, ’sted of forwards, walk.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. Or if, stead o’ that, ye wad but dine wi’ them at the change-house.
† g. In the stead: instead of it, as a substitute.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 777. He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis dess, Syne leve in the sted Bot a blak bunwed.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball., 145. All Ire and malice thow put vs fra, Thy seruandis gouerne in the steid.
1615. Heywood, Four Prentises, I. I 2 b. Stage-dir., Guy and Eustace … beate the Pagans, take away the Crownes on their heads and in the stead hang vp the contrary Shields.
1708. Swift, Abol. Chr., Wks. 1755, II. I. 93. Altering the constitution of the church established, and setting up presbytery in the stead.
h. To stand in stead of, instead of, in the stead of: see STAND v. 49.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3521. He … seide to þe quene, þat … he wold in hire sones stede stand euer at nede.
IV. 13. Advantage, avail, profit, service, support; esp. in to stand in stead, also † to stand to stead, † to stand stead (see STAND v. 48); to do, † make, † render stead. Now only arch.
a. 1300. [see STAND v. 48].
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 66. Bot þis haþe no stede bot to so streyt a wounde þat þe been may take within his extremitez þe extremitez of þe wounde.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. vi. 61. The giltyn mailȝeis makis hym na steyd, For in the coist he tholis dynt of deyd.
1524. Reg. Aberdon. (Maitland Club), I. 389. Ane precept of seysing without charter or ony oþer euident followand þerapoune suld do nane steide nor be of effect.
1524. St. Papers Hen. VIII., IV. 112. To rendre all hert, lefull service, steide, and pleasure, that lyeth in our power.
1524. Wolsey, Ibid., IV. 139. [They] may and shal do grete stede in advertising the Kinges Grace from tyme to tyme … of the procedinges. Ibid. (1542), XI. 272. And now last of all what a stede His Highnes entryng in to the warre was to Him.
1546. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 47. Thai ar contentit to do steid and service to the said Schir Neill.
1551. P’cess Mary, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 165. Of my good wyll and prayour to do you stede or pleasur, you shalbe ever duryng my lief assured.
1625. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1909), III. 113. He … assured him by passed experience what stead your language was to us in the time of our imprisonment.
1634. Milton, Comus, 611. But here thy sword can do thee little stead.
1643. Orkney Witch Trial, in Abbotsford Club Misc., I. 175. I was about the loch with Jonet Sklateris,… but it is for no stead, it will never mend hir.
a. 1670. Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (Bannatyne Club), I. 294. And sic [beasts] as wold not call thay hocht and slew, that thay sould never mak steed.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, Stead, aid, assistance, usefulness.
1873. Browning, Red Cott. Nt.-cap, 321. The two grey points that did him stead And passed their eagle-owner to the front.
† b. To serve (one) in some, no stead, to be of some, no advantage or profit to (one). Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, VIII. xv. I. 200. His hornes bend so inward … that they serve him in no steed at all for fight.
1662. [see SERVE v.1 19].
1678. Trans. Crt. Spain, 170. What stead would the Queens word then serve me in.
1680. Burnet, Rochester (1692), 46. I told him all his speculations of Philosophy would not serve him in any stead.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, IV. vii. I am glad I have made the Experiment, it may serve me in some stead.
V. 14. Comb.: † steads bearing, † stead holder [cf. STADHOLDER), † stead-holding Sc., a ‘locum tenens,’ substitute, deputy; stead-horse dial. (see quot. 1894); † stead-man = steadward; steedsman dial., a substitute, deputy; † stead mother nonce-wd. (see quot.); † stead-stathelfastness = STEADFASTNESS; † steadward (see quot.).
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 92. By þe vicare of Cudelynton or his *stedys beryng [orig. vel eius vices gerentem].
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 111. Verray vicare and *stede haldare till our lord Jhesu Crist.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxi. (Clement), 647. Bot opunyonys ware sere, quhethyr þire twa papis were, or þe papis *sted-haldande.
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1843), 37. The Banck’s-Man … leads his *Stead-Horse away with the Loaden Corfe.
1894. Northumb. Gloss., s.v. Steed, A ‘steed (or stead) horse’ is a horse employed upon a pit heap-steed.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Steward, *steed-man, the keeper of the place.
1897. F. S. Ellis, Reynard, 283. A farm in old speech was a stead, And to the stead-man’s name oft wed.
1876. Whitby Gloss., *Steeadsman, a substitute for another person.
1591. H. Smith, Prepar. Marriage, 106. A stepmother dooth signifie a *stedmother, that is, one mother dyeth, and another commeth in her stead.
a. 1225. Ancren R., 6. Non ancre bi mine read ne schal … bihoten … bute þreo þinges, þet is, obedience, chastete, & *studestaþeluestnesse.
1876. Whitby Gloss., *Steeadward, the keeper of the stead or place; a steward. Old local document.
