Forms: 2 stude, 4 stede, 5 stedde, 6–7 steed(e, Sc. steid, 6–7 sted, 7– stead. Pa. t. and pa. pple. 3 stedde, 4 stedd, 3–5 stad, 4 stadde, staad, 3–6 staid, 4–8 sted, 6–9 stead; 4 stedyd, Sc. -it, -yt, 4–5 sted(d)ede, (4 stadded), 7 steeded, 7–9 steaded. [Early ME. stude (ü), stede, f. stude, stede STEAD sb. The pa. t. and pa. pple. form stad is a. ON. stadde (pa. t.), stadd-r (pa. pple.) of steðja vb. to make to stand, stop, place, f. stað-r = OE. stęde STEAD sb.
The ON. verb is ‘little used exc in pa. pple.’ (Vigfusson); the pres.-stem was therefore not adopted in Eng., its place being taken by the pres.-stem of the cognate native verb. The form stad of the pa. t. and pa. pple. is almost confined to the senses of Scandinavian origin (branch II); for an exception see quot. c. 1400 in 1 a.]
I. To stand in stead.
1. trans. (The obj. was prob. orig. dative.)
a. impers. or with subj. a clause, inf., or noun of action: To avail, profit, be of use to (a person); † to help (a person) to do something. Also absol. Now arch.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 77. Men þet … nulleð heore sunnen forleten boð on þe doules on-walde, and þet hwile ne studed hom nawiht pet ho singe pater noster.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 4681. Þai with stode hom a stoure, but it stad litle.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 9. Perhaps my succour, or aduizement meete Mote stead you much your purpose to subdew.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 119. So it steed you, I will write … a thousand times as much. Ibid. (1592), Rom. & Jul., II. iii. 54 (2nd Qo.). My intercession likewise steads my foe.
1619. Drayton, Idea, xv. Minor Poerns (1907), 52. Since to obtaine thee nothing me will sted, I haue a Med’cine that shall cure my Loue.
1661. Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 31. The concession of which will only steed us as a Refuge for Ignorance.
1832. Miss Mitford, in T. A. Trollope, What I Remember (1887), II. 339. Your answering these questions will stead me much.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. ix. It steads not the doomed man that he have interviews with the King.
1838. Emerson, Addr. Lit. Ethics, Wks. (Bohn), II. 212. Translate, collate, distil all the systems, it steads you nothing.
1879. E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, IV. 274. How hath it steaded man to pray.
b. Of a thing: To be useful or advantageous to. Also absol. Now arch. (rare.)
1594. Daniel, Compl. Rosamond (ed. 2), lxxxvii. All these teares you shed will nothing steed.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. ii. IV. Columnes, 236. Here-by, a Crane shall steed in building more Then hundred Porters’ busie pains before.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., VI. viii. (1604), 134. The Sarmates laying aside their bowes which steeded them but a short time, ran in to the enemie with their swords and launces.
1600. Holland, Livy, IX. xxiv. 331. The place will steed you, I know.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 87. Had you that craft to reaue her Of what should stead her most? Ibid. (1610), Temp., I. ii. 165. Rich garments, linnens, stuffs, and necessaries Which since haue steeded much.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 273. It is cleere that they [spiders] were made to serue and stead vs to many excellent vses.
1623. Whitbourne, Newfoundland, 54. Which fish is in all those parts in great request, and steeds them greatly.
1635. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 79. Arrowes, speares, and javelings to steede them in occasions of boording.
1841. Browning, Pippa Passes, III. Poems (1905), 182. But guess not how the qualities required For such an office … Would little stead me, otherwise employed.
1891. M. Muriel Dowie, Girl in Karp., 254. No adjectives would stead me.
c. With subj. a person: To succor, help, render service to. Now rare.
1582. T. Mathew, in Nicolas, Mem. Sir C. Hatton (1847), 300. Knowing how much you have steaded me therein from time to time.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXII. xxxii. 452. If they could haue bethought themselues of any other meanes besides, wherein they might steed and befriend them.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. iii. 344. I could neuer better steed thee then now.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., Concl. § 2. They [the Britons] steeded the Romanes in most of their Conquests.
1625. W. B., True Sch. Warre, 15. The Sea of Rome in times past was for the most part wont to steede it selfe with the endeauours of the Minor obseruant Fryers.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), II. xxxiii. 44. I shall be glad to steed you in any thing that may tend to your advantage.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxiii. It’s like I may pleasure you, and stead your father in his extremity.
1834. Sir H. Taylor, Artevelde, II. III. ii. Alas! Would I could stead you more than with the prayers Of such a sinful creature!
1888. G. Gissing, Life’s Morning, II. 147. The consciousness of what was before her killed her power to stead him in his misery.
† d. To serve (one’s turn), minister to (necessities, desires). Obs.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxii. 1. 269. If kings had ynough in themselves too stedde their turnes withall. Ibid. (1573), Calvin on Job xxxi. 16–23. 535. True it is that wee cannot steade all the necessities that we see.
1603–26. Breton, Mad World (Grosart), 9/1. If in either my aduise or better meanes, I may stead your desire, you shall [etc.].
1605. A. Warren, Poor Man’s Pass., etc. E 4 b. So Competence Necessities may steede.
† e. To supply with something helpful. Also const. of. Obs.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxxiiii. 552. He sendeth vs pardone, and steadeth vs of a Suertie that is able to pay our debts: this Surety is the Messias.
1592. Babington, Notes Gen. ii. 9. The great power of God to furnish and steede himselfe euer with meanes to effect his wyll.
1648. Bp. Hall, Select Th., lxxii. 207. Thou … thoughtst fit to stead him with such a society as might make his life comfortable to him.
† f. To suffice for, serve the needs of. Also absol. Sc. Obs.
1497. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 335. Item,… for ane cabil tow to stede the well of Dunbar quhen it was red. Ibid., 357. Item, to Schir Andro, to steid the pur folk for vij owkis, xxj lib.
1519. Extracts Burgh Rec. Edin. (1869), I. 190. That na maner of persouns … by ony meill in greitt, mair nor will steid his awin hous honestly quhill Michaelmes nixttocum.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 71. Victuall als to steid for fourtie dais.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., xix. Thy saffron plot … shal stede both thine own house, and next neighbour too.
g. dial. In passive: see quots.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, Stedded, suited—engaged. ‘I can’t git no work—the farmers are all stedded.’
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Stead, to supply a place left vacant. ‘I am at last steaded with a servant.’
† 2. To serve (a person) for. Obs.
1563. Winȝet, trans. Vincent Lirin., Ded. Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 6. A litle … instrument that may suffice ws … for a speir or a spade…; and with that also may sted for a bricht lantern.
a. 1652. Brome, Queene’s Exch., IV. i. You have yet a Brother May stead you for a Father, Husband, Friend.
† 3. To stead up: to fulfil in the stead of another.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 260. Wee shall aduise this wronged maid to steed vp your appointment, goe in your place.
II. To place.
4. To establish, fix, place. Chiefly passive, to be situated, stand. Obs.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter lxxxvii[i]. 8. Over me es þi wreth stedde [Vulg. confirmata].
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1045. Now es adam in erth stad [Gött. stad, Fairf. stadde]. Ibid., 1442. He moght wel thinc his stund to strang þat in þat sted ware staid sa lang.
c. 1325. Poem temp. Edw. II. (Percy), 6. Whan the ȝong persoun Is stedyd in hys cherch.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., v. 6170. And whan saw we þe seke and in prison sted.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 983. Ones ho bluschet to þe burȝe, bot bod ho no lenger, Þat ho nas stadde a stiffe ston.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvi. (Baptist), 585. Þe quhilk sancte tecle with hir tuke,… & stedit it honorably in þe kirk of marytany.
c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War, II. 508. A brassynge horse … In whome may weille a thousande knythtes Be steddede.
c. 1400. Sege Jerusalem (E.E.T.S.), 33/589. [Þey] broȝten þe bishup & alle his bew clerkes Þer þe standard stode & stadded hem þer.
14[?]. Sir Amadace (Robson) xlii. 9. In stid quere thou art stadde.
c. 1440. York Myst., xvii. 28. That … stedde yone sterne to stand stone stille.
a. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 231, in Babees Bk. Ȝif þou be stad in strange contre, Enserche no fyr þen falles to the.
1473. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 177. Ȝif tha thynk that tha ma sted tham bettyr in vthir placis tha sal haue our fre licens.
1500. Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club), I. 52. The quhilk tenands ye said lord erle promitte to sleid in uthir place.
1618. W. Lawson, Orch. & Gard., ix. (1623), 25. Stead them on the North side of your other Apples.
1821. Keats, Isabella, xx. But it is done … To honour thee … To stead thee as a verse in English tongue.
† 5. To put into a certain condition, to settle. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 1893. For thai traistyt, and Scotland war weill stad, Wallace wald cum, as he thaim promyst had. Ibid., X. 748. Thus in gud pece Scotland with rycht he stad.
† b. refl. To apply oneself. Obs.
c. 1425. Non-Cycle Myst. Plays (1909), 47. Onto my warke I must me stede.
† c. To treat, deal with. Obs.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 614, in Babees Bk., The bak of þe Crevise, þus he must be sted: array hym as ye dothe þe crabbe.
† 6. pass. To be placed in a certain (evil or difficult) plight or condition; to be burdened with (sickness), beset with (enemies, etc.). Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 674. In mikul blis þan was he staad. Ibid., 13787. Bot sua wit seckenes am i stadd þat i ne mai to water win.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, ii. (Paul), 26. And sailand in Italy In parelis wes he stad sindry.
14[?]. Burgh Lawis, xcv. in Anc. Laws Scot. (Burgh Rec. Soc.), 46. Gif … and eftirwart he that tuk the lande in nede is stadd it to sell.
c. 1440. York Myst., xlviii. 289. In harde presse whan I was stedde, Of my paynes ȝe hadde pitee.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 5586. In sorow was he stadd.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 136. Sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IX. 901. Sen we ar stad with enemys on ilk syd.
c. 1480. Henryson, Test. Cress., 542. Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 47. Honorious of Rome the emprioure, That tyme with seiknes staid wes in ane stour.
† b. With adverb, To be hard (straitly, stiffly, etc.) stead: to be hard put to it, to be beset with difficulties or perils. Cf. BESTEN pa. pple.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3470. Þe leuedi was ful ferli drad Als womman þat ful hard was stad.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 204. Men redys off mony men that war Fer hardar stad then we yhet ar. Ibid., VI. 664. They wend I wes stratly stad.
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (James Less), 650. Full hard in þat towne þai war sted.
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 1528. There were oure folkes full styffely stadde.
a. 1440. Sir Eglam., 459. Thou haste byn strongly stadd.
c. 1440. York Myst., xlv. 137. Men þat are stedde stiffely in stormes or in see.
a. 1450. ? Lydg., To Sov. Lady, 109. Therfore I love no labour that ye lese Whan, in longing, sorest ye be stadde.
c. 1470[?]. What shall I do? 10, in Q. Eliz. Acad., 86. Thus am I sted ful heuely.
a. 1500. Ratis Raving, I. 461. Quhen þow art stad ocht narowly With Irous wyll and gluttony.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 125. He circulit him sone efter at ane seig, Into ane place quhair he wes sted rycht herd.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, III. ii. 91. O me, ill stead, valliant Rogero slaine.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xix. O father, we are cruelly sted between God’s laws and man’s laws.
† 7. intr. a. To stay, tarry. b. To stop, come to a stand. c. To stand, consist. Obs.
13[?]. K. Alis., 4146. Alisaunder to him cometh, and nought stet.
c. 1420. Avow. Arth., xliii. 13. The knyȝte stedit and stode.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xxxii. 4 (Ireland MS.). Tell me … Quy thou stedis in that stid, and stendus so stille?
c. 1440. York Myst., xlvi. 94. I schall nott stedde in no stede but in stall and in strete.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., vii. 206. For soth, my lord, I shall not sted till I haue theym theder led.
c. 1500. Sc. Poem on Her., 170, in Q. Eliz. Acad., 100. In quhat metallis or colouris that thai sted.
Hence † Steaded ppl. a., ? placed in position. Obs.
1609. Ev. Woman in Hum., II. i. C 4. Let your faire hand be beame vnto the ballance, And with a stedded peyze, lift vp that beame.
